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1371 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
1 day ago

Poll: How do you feel about dogs being allowed indoors in cafes?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

For most of us, seeing a friendly doggo while out and about instantly brings a smile to our faces. But how do you feel about cafes welcoming pups inside?

Cast a vote and share your thoughts below.

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How do you feel about dogs being allowed indoors in cafes?
  • 27.4% I love it!
    27.4% Complete
  • 32.2% Only in designated areas
    32.2% Complete
  • 40.4% No, it should be outdoors only.
    40.4% Complete
1349 votes
16 hours ago

Happy Tuesday, neighbours, can you figure out today's riddle rush 🏃‍♂️

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

A bus driver goes the wrong way down a one-way street. He passes the cops, but they don’t stop him. Why?

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3 hours ago

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Cindy from Freemans Bay

The man who was supposed to come & help my over 70 cousin has never turned up. My cousin only needs light help in her small garden for 2 hours a week,she has new gloves & it will be regular work hours.She will pay $70 for those 2 hours each week.Cindy