Kea conservation

The kea is a protected species that lives in forests and mountainous areas across the South Island from Golden Bay to Fiordland.

This native parrot is a taonga for Ngāi Tahu and Ngā iwi o Te Tauihu (northern South Island iwi) and valued by New Zealanders as an icon of the outdoors.

Like many other native birds, kea suffer from predation by introduced mammals. Kea are also impacted by human activity.

Introduced predators kill kea

Stoats are the primary predators of kea, and feral cats are also a major threat, particularly in eastern South Island areas where cat populations make incursions into kea habitat. Possums are known to prey on kea and disturb nests, and rats have also occasionally been observed preying on kea eggs.

Kea are particularly vulnerable because they nest in cavities on the ground that are easy to find and get into. They also spend lots of time on the ground exploring and foraging for food, which puts them at risk.

Monitoring shows that when predators are controlled with well-timed aerial 1080 treatment and/or traps, about 70% of kea nests are successful, producing at least one chick. Without pest control, this success rate is about 40% but drops to 10% or less after a forest mast (seeding) causes rat and stoat numbers to soar. More juvenile and adult kea also survive with predator control.

Impacts of human activity

Studies have shown that kea are at more risk of eating 1080 baits during predator control operations in areas where they are fed or able to scavenge human food.   These behaviours also increase accidents with cars where kea are attracted to roadside areas.

Buildings with lead nails and flashing are also a problem. Lead is attractive to kea because it is soft to chew and has a sweet taste to them, and this can result in lead poisoning.

The bird's inquisitive and explorative behaviour can cause conflict with people, and damage to property especially around campsites and carparks.

Despite being illegal, kea are still being shot. If you are having problems with kea in your area, contact your local DOC office or the Kea Conservation Trust for advice and assistance.

Kea recovery

DOC is working in partnership with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu on a Kea Recovery Programme, in which the Kea Conservation Trust is also involved. The programme draws on both mātauranga Māori and science in its approach to kea conservation, with the goal of increasing kea numbers and securing the survival of this smart and tenacious taonga species into the future.

The Kea Recovery Programme has three key strands. The first is to build on knowledge of kea populations and ecology. Secondly, to manage the top threats to kea, which are from introduced predators and lead poisoning. And thirdly, to avoid harmful human-kea interactions.

Te Rautaki Whakaora Kea/the Kea Recovery Strategy 2024-2034 (PDF, 10, 653K).

Kea recovery group five-year action plan (PDF, 603K)

Kea research

The key focus for kea research over the past decade or more has been on the effects of predator control on kea nesting success and the unintended risk to kea from predator control using 1080.

Results from DOC kea research have led to a better understanding of how to minimise the risk to kea from predator control carried out in kea habitat. There is now a code of practice for aerial 1080 in kea habitat which must followed by all such operations carried out on public conservation land.

Other research is giving new insights into the impact of predators. A recent study on kea living east of Arthur’s Pass and Lewis Pass has shown high rates of adult kea being preyed upon outside the breeding season – half killed by feral cats and half by stoats. While plans are in place for trapping feral cats, there are few tools yet available for controlling them over large areas.

Kea: a review of ecology, threats, and research gaps for conservation (PDF, 4,830K)

Keeping kea safe while controlling predators

Use of ground-based pest control methods in kea habitat

The Kea Conservation Trust maintain a guidance document to the use of ground-based pest control methods in kea habitat. 

It identifies which pest control devices are known to be safe for use in kea habitat or can be made safe with simple modifications to set methodology, seasonal timing, or trap architecture.

Traps that are unsuitable and should not be used near kea are identified with justification from field-observed fatalities or through testing in aviary settings by qualified researchers

Ground-based pest control in kea habitat

Trialling new pest control tools for use in kea habitat

A plethora of new traps and bait station devices are coming online to help protect against introduced predators. From AI triggers to new bait delivery tools, these present new opportunities to effectively protect wildlife.

Unfortunately, also new opportunities for kea to get themselves into micheif, and get themselves killed. Before a new trap can be used on public conservation land, it needs to be tested and added to the approved list of DOC traps (DOC’s “Status list”). The following guidance is aimed at helping groups wanting to trial tools in kea habitat to design meaningful tests of their tools.

Kea safe field trials guidance (PDF, 821K)

Keeping kea safe from toxins

While predator control using 1080 benefits kea populations, kea are also at risk of eating 1080 cereal baits. Research has shown kea are at greater risk from 1080 where they regularly interact with people and human food in places like Arthur’s Pass and Franz Josef as this likely reduces their natural caution.

Research trials underway in 2022 aim to test the use of bird repellents to reduce the risk to kea of eating 1080 bait and increase the overall benefits from predator control. 

The trials have been co-designed with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (TRONT), OSPRI, ZIP (Zero Invasive Species) and the Kea Conservation Trust and build on previous research.

Two repellents are being tested in field trials around Arthur’s Pass.

D-pulegone, a peppermint food additive that repels birds, is being tested with kea to see if it stops them interacting with bait used in predator control.

Previous trials using this repellent with kea have shown promise, but it evaporated too quickly from the cereal bait to be effective. A new method is being tested using tiny capsules of repellent in the bait.

Next steps will be testing the repellent baits with rats and possums (to check it doesn’t affect their interest in the baits) and possible field trials in 2023.

Another repellent, anthraquinone, is being tested in two predator control operations west of Arthur’s Pass in 2022. 

This repellent makes birds feel unwell when eaten and is being used in non-toxic bait ahead of the operations to see if kea can be ‘trained’ to avoid 1080 bait.

Results of these trials will inform further research and best practice guidelines for use of 1080 in kea habitat – both aimed at making predator control safer for kea.

Kea in captivity

The role of the captive kea population in New Zealand is for advocacy, research and an insurance population if required in the future. There are approximately 50 kea across 13 captive holders as at August 2024.

The Kea Husbandry Manual documents current best practice in husbandry of captive kea. It establishes a clear minimum standards for holders. The manual reflects the collective experience of many individuals and organisations that have held kea in captivity nationally and internationally. The standards are designed to ensure the best welfare outcomes for captive kea in New Zealand and abroad.

Kea Husbandry Manual (PDF, 3,017K)

This manual has been produced by the Zoo and Aquarium Association of Australasia and the Kea Conservation Trust. The manual is supported and approved for implementation by the Department of Conservation and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

You can help

Become a kea surveyor!

If you are a regular backcountry user, then start recording the presence and absence of kea on your trips.

Report sightings

Report sightings on the Kea Database website or to the nearest DOC office.

Useful details to note include: where you saw it, what date and time you saw it, the band colour combination or numbers if the kea is banded, and what the kea was doing. Photos are especially useful.

Remove temptation

• Never feed kea. Feeding kea is harmful to them.
• Where kea are present, avoid leaving temptations around such as loose clothing and boots, packs, food and brightly coloured objects.
• Replace lead nails and flashing on buildings with non-toxic alternatives.

Support the Kea Conservation Trust

The Kea Conservation Trust works with others to research and raise awareness of kea and the issues impacting them. The trust is a valuable source of information from scientific papers to educational material.

• Get involved with the Kea Conservation Trust
• Find publications in the kea bibliography