Mana whenua-led collaboration prepares Pukekura wildlife for H5N1 arrival

On Tuesday 15 September 2026, details were shared regarding the proactive measures being taken at Pukekura to protect native wildlife from the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu strain. The Pukekura headland on the Otago Peninsula, which serves as the Southern Hemisphere’s only mainland breeding colony for toroa (northern royal albatross), is now under a site-specific response plan aimed at mitigating the impact of the virus following its arrival in Aotearoa. According to RNZ’s Our Changing World, the headland is managed through Te Poari a Pukekura, a collaborative group featuring representatives from Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, Korako Karetai Trust, the Department of Conservation (DOC), and the Dunedin City Council. Nadia Wesley-Smith, a mana whenua representative on the board, stated that the group has been preparing for the virus for years. The current strategy focuses on intensive monitoring and surveillance, including daily testing of water baths within the reserve to detect the virus's presence early. The response plan involves three distinct scenarios to manage both wildlife safety and the site’s status as a major tourism destination. While tourism currently continues under the first scenario, Wesley-Smith noted that a complete headland closure would be considered if mass mortality occurred among the wildlife colonies, which include Otago shags, tītī, and kororā. Decisions will be made based on real-time observations of the species at the headland. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka confirmed that a two-phase vaccination plan is also underway. DOC principal ranger Jim Watts explained that while toroa are included in the vaccination strategy, the process requires two doses administered three to four weeks apart. The team aims to vaccinate adult birds returning for the next breeding season to ensure they have peak protection. Although the virus has reached New Zealand shores, there have not yet been signs of it spreading within the colonies at Pukekura.