It's the great kererū hunt - have you seen them in your neighbourhood?
Hawke's Bay residents are being asked to keep an eye out for any kererū swooping across their backyards as the Great Kererū Count takes flight across the country.
This year the count will run from September 22 to October 1. A partnership between WWF-New Zealand, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington City Council, and NatureWatch NZ, the project helps build up where the native pigeon can, and can't, be found.
In the 2014-16 Great Kererū Count there were 857 kererū counted in Hawke's Bay.
WWF-New Zealand's chief executive Livia Esterhazy said the count was vital not just for protecting the kererū, but for ensuring the health of forest ecosystems into the future.
"Large flocks of more than 100 kererū were once a common sight in skies over New Zealand – our ambition is to see them prolific again," she said.
Kererū were known as "gardeners of the skies", because they played a crucial role in dispersing seeds of native canopy trees such as tawa, taraire, and matai.
They were the only birds who did so, making them an essential part of forest regeneration.
Senior lecturer in ecology at Victoria University, Dr Stephen Hartley, said the project helped build up a detailed picture of where kererū were distributed across the country, what they were feeding on and where they were found in towns and cities.
"Over time, we hope to discover whether numbers are increasing or decreasing and whether populations are faring better or worse in some parts of the country compared to others.
"This year we are especially keen for people to seek out new locations, as well as returning to old haunts to make timed observations of between five and 30 minutes. Even if you don't see a kererū in this time – that's still useful information and important to submit."
This year, there are three options to make kererū observations – via www.greatkererucount.nz... www.naturewatch.org.nz... or with the iNaturalist App available on iTunes and Google Play.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
Facebook Marketplace Scams
Police are urging members of the public to be aware of Facebook Marketplace scams, in particular tiny home, shipping container and portable cabin home scams targeting Hawke’s Bay and the Eastern Police District.
Multiple people have seen the different listings and either paid deposits or the full price into various bank accounts.
Once the victim transfers money, the scammer deletes the listing, all the messages and blocks them.
In one case a victim has lost $10,000, with further victims losing in the thousands.
In many of these cases the offenders are based overseas and our ability to recover the funds transferred is limited.
“We are urging members of the community to think twice before transferring money for items on Facebook and other social media platforms.” says Senior Constable Gillon.
Anyone who has been affected by this scam is encouraged to contact Police online or via 105.
Senior Constable Gillon says if you decide to purchase off social media, we encourage you to take precautions to protect yourself.
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀:
💸 Insist on meeting to conduct transactions and examine the item before completing the transaction.
💸 Meet in a public place and take a friend. DO NOT go into someone’s house or allow them into yours.
💸 DO NOT deposit money into another person’s account before you have received the item.
💸 Learning more about the person you are buying from or selling to.
💸 You can tap on a person's profile on the product listing page to see if you have any friends in common, their marketplace activity, and any ratings they may have received.
💸 Ensure friends and family, especially anyone vulnerable, understand what to do to protect themselves.
💸 Be the person to provide that ongoing support and advice.
💸 Trust your instincts – if it’s too good to be true or sounds like a scam, it probably is.
If you believe you are or have been a victim of fraud, contact Police at www.police.govt.nz..., or call Police on 105 and report the matter. If you have handed over your bank details, contact your bank and immediately suspend your account.
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