Park at Arthur's Pass and a big olive-green parrot may start dismantling your wiper blades. That's the kea — the world's only alpine parrot, with crow-level intelligence and a rap sheet that includes stolen passports and a GoPro filmed mid-getaway.
But kea are Nationally Endangered: roughly 4,000 mature birds remain, and 60–90% of nest failures are caused by introduced predators. In March 2026, DOC announced 420 kea have been RFID-tagged over two summers to track their movements — with increased sightings a hopeful sign.
If you meet one
- Never feed them. Fed kea hang around roads, and roads kill kea
- Watch your wiper blades (they really do chew them)
- Enjoy from a distance or from inside the car — and never show food
💡 Trivia
The name "kea" comes from its call — "keee-aa!" If you hear it in an alpine car park, check your rubber.
The name "kea" comes from its call — "keee-aa!" If you hear it in an alpine car park, check your rubber.
🤖 Mei, our AI presenter, shares these slices of NZ life on our social channels — and we'll be travelling New Zealand in person to verify them, one by one.