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Story: Introduced land birds

Distribution of kookaburras

Distribution of kookaburras

The kookaburra is a rare bird in New Zealand. The population was probably started by Sir George Grey, who released kookaburras on Kawau Island. Kookaburras are still mainly found in areas relatively close to Kawau. There were isolated sightings in Rangiora in the 1980s and Hamilton in 1994.

Using this item

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: C. J. R. Robertson, P. Hyvönen, M. J. Fraser, and C. R. Pickard, Atlas of bird distribution in New Zealand 1999–2004. Wellington: Ornithological Society of New Zealand, 2007

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How to cite this page

Christina Troup, Introduced land birds – Kookaburras, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/map/17151/distribution-of-kookaburras (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Christina Troup, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

Duane
30 November 2024
Yeap I've seen them in waipu like 8 years ago at my old job. Couldn't believe it . Thats a bloody kookaburra .
Mark Pickles
16 August 2020
We had one on our garden for about 10 minutes this morning. Rothesay bay north shore, Auckland.. Very beautiful bird.
Karen Cafe
19 January 2020
Our resident pair of Kookaburras on our property in Kaukapakapa have a youngster which we have seen and heard a lot these last few days. The mother is seen hunting and taking food to her youngster who resides high in the pine trees on our property. We love them and feel privileged to have them raise a youngster here.
Carol petrie
15 December 2017
I saw one today, at my property in Waitakere Auckland, it landed in my pines and stayed for about 10minutes until the magpies chased it off! Felt very lucky to see it!
Deirdre
02 September 2017
I saw and heard two Kookaburra's in Henderson Valley and managed to get a photo of one of them. We often hear them around our house.
Chris Hawken
21 August 2017
I'm 99% sure I have seen a kookaburra in New Plymouth NZ. Is this possible?
faulMurray Faulknerkner
08 February 2017
Today 7 Feb 2017 saw a kookaburra on the power lines, 'singing' away loudly. Stopped and watched briefly. Seen on Ridge Rd about 10 km East of Kumeu. Have seen plenty in Aus but first sighting on the mainland. Murray Faulkner
Paula Laurie
27 October 2016
Saw a kookaburra whilst walking around the base track of Mount Maunganui today 27th October 2016 at about 11.45am.Tauranga.
Angelika
27 September 2016
I have a pair of Kookaburras here in Kumeu and they seem to prepare a nest in a big tree. They make big noises if any other birds approach their tree. What a great sight.
Alex Henderson
15 August 2016
On the morning of 14th August, after a great weather bomb the previous night, I heard a Kookaburra here in Ruakaka. I got no photo the bird was high in a grove of pines. However I got a nice recording on my phone. Heard the call three times. My sister on the other side of the village heard the call too earlier in the morning. I believe there are some at Whangarei heads. not far as the crow flies.. Er.. kookaburra. Possibly windblown from there.. I do wish you could expand your map a bit ...be easier to sort your sighting record.. Regards Alex Henderson.
Trevor K
06 August 2016
Saw and photographed one in Henderson August 2016
Dave
05 July 2016
I saw a kokobarra today in Henderson in my property sitting on the tree I got a good photo to
Mace
28 May 2016
I saw one in Wadestown, Wellington. I freaked out, because I thought they were native to Australia. The more you know.
Smurf
01 April 2016
I heard a 'burra today, in Henderson Valley, at about noon. Didn't see it, but there's no mistaking the call.
Matt
20 March 2016
Saw a Kookaburra on powerlines above Ascension Winery near Matakana on 17th March
[email protected]
13 February 2016
My husband saw one today (13/2/16) at Ponatahi in the Wairarapa. He says he used to see them around the family home in Strathmore, Wellington, around 1966/67.
Amie
06 December 2015
We moved to Warkworth close to the data lite station a week ago and have heard them calling every night - 6th December 2015
Hazel Denyer
03 December 2015
Kookaburra sounds on Pomona Rd, Kumeu today 06:50, heard before so must frequent here occassionally.
Monique
29 November 2015
28th, and 29th November a fat Kookaburra sighted, and heard in Sunnyvale, West Auckland. In a gum tree, or native exotic as council calls them.
Judi Scanlan
07 November 2015
I heard a kookaburra a week ago in Brighams Creek area in Whenuapai, and my husband heard it again this week, hope they come and stay . We've also got a large flock of cockatoo s , that hang around here at certain a times of the year.
Anna
22 August 2015
We have a pair that live at the back of our place on Sunnyvale rd, Massey, Auckland, we love them sitting on the fence and the background singing.
Greg Williams
19 August 2015
Heard and saw a Kookaburra ,Denarius Lane, Glendene, AK on 17 Aug, 2015. Quite surprised me till I noted they've been sighted out west AK.
Ewen Cafe
25 July 2015
We have a pair on our property near Kaukapakapa. We've heard them on many occasions but only got our first confirmed sighting of them this morning. I'm an Aussie now residing in NZ and must say I love having them here...
coral
17 June 2015
Saw one in Marlborough sounds 2014
Lisa Robertson
05 February 2015
For the first time in 6 years living in waimauku we have heard the kookaburra bird!, very cool
Carey
12 January 2015
Just heard one in Snells Beach, just outside Warkworth.
Val
29 December 2014
Saw one kookaburra in a gum tree at the back of our house in Henderson Valley, I thought I heard a similar call nearby but did not see a second bird.
Naidine
09 November 2014
Have heard one twice over the last few weeks. This morning hubby and I saw and heard one. I took lots of photos too. Springs Flat, (Kamo)Whangarei
Anya
13 July 2014
Just saw one sitting on a power line in Waitoki, North Auckland. I thought I was imaging it, but sure enough, there it was!
Donna maxwell
14 June 2014
Spotted one today (June 14th 2014) on a fence at Ascension Winery in Matakana. Very cool to see!
Mike
28 November 2013
Just heard and saw one fly over, Whareora rd Whangarei
tyler
16 November 2013
saw one on a powerline near workworth , much bigger than our nz kingfisher
Elaine
25 August 2013
I saw one in Whitianga in the neighbours tree yesterday morning - at first I thought it was a kingfisher but after looking through the binos and getting a photo of it -it is definitely a kookaburra.
yvette
14 May 2013
Hi it's so good to see people writing in. I saw a kookaburra on 14 May 2013 on the power lines near the satellite dishes in Warkworth.
anonymous
09 April 2013
OMG just had two Kookburra singing/laughinh in our tree next to our house. What a awesome sound and so loud! I hope they hang around. We are in Taupaki.
Laurie Brenssell
27 June 2012
Heard and saw one at Puhoi at the weekend while attending Rally New Zealand
Glennis Cavanagh
08 October 2011
Saw and heard Kookaburra outside my bedroom, Wharehine on Kaipra Coast, in September 2011, local farmer said he hadnt seen one for over 10 years in same area. Beautiful, never heard one before that day!
Glennis Cavanagh
08 October 2011
Saw and heard Kookaburra outside my bedroom, Wharehine on Kaipra Coast, in September 2011, local farmer said he hadnt seen one for over 10 years in same area. Beautiful, never heard one before that day!
bev hawkins
23 September 2011
We have them on our property and I see them most days, sound like monkeys!!
Lianne
05 September 2011
We have seen one in Millwater - Silverdale, Auckland. Noisy bird eh!
beryl
02 June 2011
We live in silverdale,Auckland and hear them every day
Dianne
28 March 2011
No sightings or hearing of kookaburras here up in Doubtless Bay in the Far North Yet but I loved seeing them on powerlines, in gum trees and hearing their loud raucous laugh in NSW, Oz when I worked there from Aug- Nov last yr.
Victoria
14 March 2011
Just seen a pair in Helensville. Wow! They sure are loud :)
Sonny Gough
07 March 2011
Fantastic. They were mostly seen around the satellite dishes near Warkworth till a few years ago, but I thought I heard one calling near the Swanson Railway station last month. Thanks Jessica
Jessica Richards
19 January 2011
We have a large very vocal flock in Henderson Valley, West Auckland. Love them!
Dan
04 December 2010
We all so heard Kookaburras in Leigh at the goat Island camp sight 27th November 2010
Sandi
03 December 2010
I saw a Kookaburra on a powerline near the Warworth glof-club....I thought I was seeing things so am glad to hear they ARE in fact in NZ!Hope they migarte to our bush on the Whangaparaoa.....LOVE that sound!
Leigh
18 November 2010
Also heard and saw them in a tree on RedHills Road Massey they seem to be living in a huge gum tree there is also a nest of young ones in the tree
Rachel
19 October 2010
Definitely saw and heard one this morning up Bowenvale Track in Christchurch.
George bateman
18 October 2010
Heard and saw them on 17th October 2010 in the trees at the back of a house on Kauri Drive in the Township of Kumeu.As an Ozzie that is familiar with them I have no doubt that they were Kookaburras