1827 days ago

Zoo staff hunt for puweto: west Auckland

Caryn Wilkinson Reporter from Community News

Auckland Zoo staff have joined Matuku Link colleagues to scour for the elusive puweto.

Puweto, or the small dark coloured rails, live in freshwater wetlands scattered throughout the country, with their largest populations in the North Island.

The Matuku Link is a 37 hectare native forest block in west Auckland's Bethell's Valley.

The reserve connects many protected areas including Ark in the Park, Habitat Te Henga, Forrest Ridge and Matuku Reserve.

Staff from the zoo and Matuku Link joined volunteers to search for the birds in Bethells wetlands.

The presence of small dark coloured rails in a particular wetland signals the overall health of the ecosystem.

But more than 90 per cent of New Zealand's wetland areas have been drained and cleared for agriculture which has yielded a major impact on all species.

Puweto need vegetation such as raupo and kuta in which to forage and nest.

Surveyors used a recorded sound of the birds' calls to aid monitoring.

They saw two puweto and netted 13 call responses at 38 listening posts.

Photo: John Sumich

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More messages from your neighbours
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10 hours ago

Suspicious Guy

Jan from Te Atatu South

Keep an eye on this guy, pretended to read the water meter, then wandered up the drive crowbar in hand when I asked what he wanted he said power and is there a dog.We have smart meters. He opened my neighbours gate (we are 3 units) and went in the back of her place with his crowbar. My son went round there and he took off. Police informed.

3 days ago

Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!

Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?

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Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
  • 79.1% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
    79.1% Complete
  • 20.9% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
    20.9% Complete
655 votes
5 hours ago

Exclusive Christmas Sleep Deals - Up to 65% OFF Beds!

Beds4U - Henderson

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Browse all Boxing Day deals: beds4u.co.nz/boxing-day

Don’t miss out, give yourself the gift of quality sleep this Christmas!

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