A taonga species for Ngāi Tahu and Ngā iwi o Te Tauihu, the kea (Nestor notabilis) is found throughout Te Waipounamu from the snow-covered peaks of the Southern Alps down to temperate coastal rainforest. They are long-lived, highly intelligent, and famously curious, with a reputation for dismantling anything left unattended and a personality that tends to make an impression on anyone who meets one.
They are also endangered. Fewer than 7,000 kea remain in the wild, and the population faces ongoing pressure from predation, lead poisoning, and conflict with people. Kea are drawn to human infrastructure, particularly east of the main divide, where they chew lead flashings on roofs, get into rubbish, and interact with vehicles, machinery, and buildings in ways that frequently end badly for the bird. Removing lead from their environment, encouraging kea-safe pest control, and keeping kea wild enough to stay out of trouble are all essential to the species’ continued survival.
