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Story: Large forest birds

Parea

Parea

The parea is found only on the Chatham Islands. It is even larger than the mainland’s kererū, and was close to extinction in the 1980s. Numbers are slowly increasing, thanks to predator control, and forests being restored and protected from stock. Parea and kererū help the bush regenerate by spreading seeds from the fruit they eat.

Using this item

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10046455

by J. L. Kendrick

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How to cite this page

Gerard Hutching, Large forest birds – Pigeons – kererū and parea, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10572/parea (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 1 March 2009, updated 1 August 2023.

Comments

Rhonda farmer
09 May 2025
Hello, I think the bird that is in my Christchurch garden today the 9th May 2025 is a Parea, it is grey and white and larger then a Pigeon. It was really close to my flat sitting on my small greenhouse which is 3 feet from my sliding door. Then flew up into the tree. I have photos and a video.