The Great Kererū Count is NZ’s biggest citizen science project to help gather information on the abundance and distribution of the New Zealand pigeon — also known as kererū, kūkū or kūkupa. You can get involved!

 The Great Kererū Count was set up to help us get a better understanding of kererū numbers and distribution across New Zealand. The more people who participate, the better the understanding we will get on how kererū are doing across the country.

Everyone in New Zealand can get involved with the Great Kererū Count, whether you see any kererū or not, sharing your observations with us will help build up a clearer picture of where the kererū live, how many there are and what they are feeding on. There are three ways you can record your kererū observations. Find out more about how to count here.

Over a number of years, scientists from Victoria University of Wellington and Lincoln University will use data from the Great Kererū Count and build a more accurate picture of kererū numbers, distribution as well as key kererū behaviours. This will help us understand how best to protect kererū. 

The humble kererū is one of New Zealand’s most valuable assets when it comes to our native forests. Long before humans came to this country, kererū have been undertaking the largest plant restoration project the country has ever seen. Kererū are the only bird left in New Zealand that are able to swallow and disperse the seeds from our largest native trees such as tawa, taraire, pūriri and matai. Kererū can live for 21+ years and are essential for native bush regeneration. Their disappearance would be a disaster for our native forests.

No other mainland bird is large enough to fulfil this function, making the species essential for forest regeneration. Information and data collected from this nation-wide citizen science project will be used to better protect kererū and to help save our native forests. Protecting kererū helps protect our native ecosystems.