Community Engagement
Helping make Auckland’s backyards safer for native wildlife
The New Zealand wood pigeon is a large endemic bird also known in Te Reo Māori as the kererū, or kūkupa and kūku in Northland.
In Te Wao Nui, our sanctuary for native New Zealand species, we have two kererū in our Forest aviary - Rui and Karo.
Many of you will be familiar with Rui, who likes to perch on the railing of our lookout area and be admired by our visitors, while Karo is more shy and can be seen eating or resting in the forest canopy above.
Watch our video with bird keeper Nat below, as she introduces our kererū and explains what is so special about them.