1251 days ago

BirdCare appeals for public support ahead of baby bird influx

Melanie Earley Reporter from Western Leader

Kia ora neighbours, New Zealand’s largest wildlife hospital and rehabilitation centre is appealing for public support as they prepare for
an influx of baby birds.

BirdCare Aotearoa is a registered charity dedicated to caring for sick, injured and orphaned wild birds.

Over 6,000 birds are delivered to their centre in Green Bay, Auckland every year.

The centre’s admissions have been steadily increasing, with a 20% increase in admissions this year.

“Barely two weeks into spring, we’ve already admitted over 150 ducklings as well as a few other chicks including an orphaned pūkeko and a tiny ōi (grey-faced petrel),” says General Manager, Dr Lynn Miller.

“The bulk of our financial support comes through the front door – donations from very kind and generous people in the community who have rescued birds, supplemented by community grants,” says Fundraising and Development Coordinator, Bianka Atlas.

“We’re in the wake of a particularly challenging couple of years and are feeling the pinch."

The charity has launched a two-week crowdfunding campaign (click the link below), and hope to raise $15,000 to help cover food, essential medication and housing.

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More messages from your neighbours
20 hours ago

Some Choice News!

Kia pai from Sharing the Good Stuff

DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.

Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.

For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.

Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?

We hope this brings a smile!

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20 days ago

Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.

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4 days ago

Door knockers

Colin from Henderson

Kids knocking on your door and running off is still a thing in 2026..