Meet the kākā

Cheeky yet endearing, kākā manage to surprise, delight (and sometimes frustrate) those who spot them in the wild. 

Built for the bush

The kākā is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest forest parrot, hailing from the same family as its alpine cousin, the kea. Olive-brown with flashes of crimson under its wings and belly, the kākā is a “forest specialist” happily navigating tree canopies and branches as well as dense native bush. Their powerful beaks act as a third leg, gripping tree trunks and stripping back bark in search of hidden goodies.

Kākā really know how to make themselves known! Often heard long before they are seen, their raucous “ka-aa” and grating “kraak” calls have earned kākā a reputation as the local loudmouth, wherever they are present.

Lucky Wellingtonians will be familiar with the sound of kākā – they have seen a boom in their local kākā population across the city’s green belt following their reintroduction to Zealandia.

Kākā aren’t the most graceful eaters and take a heartier approach to their food, tearing away at bark and plunging their long tongues into the base of native flowers. Despite their bad manners, kākā have a diverse but refined palette which includes nectar and sap from blossoming rātā or pōhutukawa, seeds and fruit, as well as wood boring insects. 

Ecosystem engineers  

Kākā play a key role in the ecosystem of our forests, stripping back bark and breaking into rotting wood in search of grubs. In doing so, they help create homes and habitats for insects and other birds. They are master pollinators, using their brush-tipped tongues to feed on native flowers like rātā, kōwhai, pōhutukawa and kōtukutuku (tree fuschia) and transferring pollen in the process. 

Kākā also hold special significance in Māori culture and are considered a tāonga (treasure). They are deeply respected for their feathers and their wisdom and guardianship over our native bush.  

Love, nesting and kāka conservation  

Kākā pair up during spring and summer and usually opt to nest in a tree cavity. Female kākā incubate their eggs and raise the chicks, while males forage and deliver food to busy mums.  

Estimated at around 10,000, the kākā population is very much still in the recovery phase. Multiple breeding programmes are in place across the country to give kākā chicks the best possible chance at survival, as well as increasing genetic diversity. 

Strongholds of our kākā population are on offshore islands such as Great Barrier, Rangitoto, Kapiti, Ulva and Motutapu with recovery also happening at sites where mammalian predators are heavily controlled. 

Conservation projects across New Zealand are playing an essential role in bringing kākā back into urban green spaces. One recent good-news story close to our hearts was a kākā taking up residence in a Queenstown neighbourhood. This area has been a focus for trapping groups associated with the Whakatipu Wildlife Trust, whose work we support through The Soar Initiative. 

Winning over a wild parrot 

Kākā aren’t your average backyard visitor. They are large, intelligent forest parrots with serious beaks and even bigger personalities. If you are keen on seeing a kākā in the neighborhood, the local trees need to offer something worth flight.  

Kākā are seasonal specialists moving from one food source to another as they become available. To catch their attention and provide long term food sources, consider supporting local native planting projects that prioritise nectar and berry-bearing species like kōwhai,  pōhutukawa, rātā, karamū and harakeke (flax). These native species not only provide food, but also the structure and shelter kākā look for. 

As Wellingtonians will know, kākā can cause some chaos. Their natural foraging instinct to strip back bark to feed on insects and sap, and have caused significant damage to trees in botanic gardens and suburban areas.  

Before feeding kākā, be sure to check in with your local council or with DOC, as advice can vary from region to region.