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Kōrero: Rabbits

Image
Weka

The ground-dwelling weka was one of just two native predators of rabbits. Ironically, when mustelids (ferrets, stoats and weasels) were released in New Zealand in the 1880s to help control rabbits, they killed large numbers of weka.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: B-110-004

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Robert Peden, Rabbits – Using predators for control, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/artwork/15263/weka (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Robert Peden, i tāngia i te 1 March 2009.