A warm welcome to our Alaskan godwits
Hi Neighbourly folk it is not Feathered Friend Friday but when I saw this post from Lower Hutt photographer Louise Thomas, I thought it was too good not to use.
Read what she had to say about her godwit/kuaka pictures.
"Sometimes the most extraordinary birds come in the plainest of packaging, and so it is for the bar-tailed godwit/kuaka (Limosa lapponica). Their plain packaging is of course a perfect camouflage - with variegated shades of brown echoing the ripples of mud and sand where they feed.
Seen here foraging on a mud flat at the Waikanae River estuary, they shove their long beaks into the muddy sand and pull up rubbery bits of Godwit-knows-what which they gulp with gusto – not surprising as they are probably absolutely famished.
These migratory birds begin arriving in New Zealand from early September, after an extraordinary often non-stop eight to nine-day 11,000-12,000 km flight from western Alaska.
We are also lucky enough to get the occasional bird on Petone Beach and around the Hutt Estuary, but I was thrilled to see eight in non-breeding plumage congregated on the mud at Waikanae."
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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53.7% Human-centred experience and communication
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14.6% Critical thinking
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29.1% Resilience and adaptability
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2.6% Other - I will share below!
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
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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