New Zealand is home to a stunning parrot species known as kea. Sadly, these sociable and intelligent birds are now an endangered species. But on a brighter note, NZSki wants to change that.
In a bid to save the Kea and help protect other birds native to the alpine areas around Queenstown, NZ Ski has announced a five-year commitment of a quarter of a million dollars.
The commitment is spearheaded a $50,000 donation to the Kea Conservation Trust.
NZSki’s commitment will focus on three key areas: working closely with the Trust to find and protect kea, educating visitors and locals on kea conservation and protecting and enriching the natural habitat for kea and other native birds.
NZSki CEO Paul Anderson said the investment was an important step in their continued conservation efforts.
“This is a great way of directing all our efforts into a single focus which is keeping our precious native birds here and helping sustain their habitat for future generations – theirs and ours!”
NZSki CEO Paul Anderson
Kea Conservation Trust Chair, Tamsin Orr-Walker, said that with only a few thousand birds remaining, NZSki’s support provides a massive boost to kea around the Wakatipu and Mt Hutt areas.
“Kea numbers have declined dramatically over recent years and this long-term commitment to protecting these remnant populations is vital if this trend is to be reversed,” she said
The trust will focus on research at The Remarkables first, where kea are frequently sighted by guests and staff.
Signage panels will be created ahead of The Remarkables’ 2019 ski season, designed to educate visitors on kea, and raise awareness about their survival threat.
Over summer, tens of thousands of dollars will also go toward setting and maintaining trapping lines at The Remarkables, Coronet Peak and Mt Hutt to protect from predators such as stoats and possums. This benefits all birdlife.
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