Police and council are investigating after a woman and her two children claim they witnessed a park ranger violently and “inhumanely” attacking pūkeko in an Auckland regional park.
Katie Rodgers told NZ Herald she saw someone she believed to be a park worker “aggressively striking and injuring” the native birds with what appeared to be a large hammer or mallet at Shakespear Regional Park on Thursday.
Her husband told the Herald the man “appeared to take pleasure in deliberately breaking the birds’ legs, leaving them suffering on the ground rather than dispatching them humanely”.
He said that once the man realised he was being watched, his behaviour became “increasingly erratic”.
“He began talking to himself, waving the [hammer] and displaying signs of instability.”
Katie said the behaviour was “cruel, reckless, and conducted in a public setting”.
Police confirmed it was investigating a report of a pūkeko being mistreated on Thursday at Shakespear Regional Park.
“Police were advised around 11.40am on Thursday, 18 September, that one person was harming pūkekos. Inquiries are continuing.”
Auckland Council manager of regional parks Scott De Silva said council was aware of the incident and was taking it “very seriously”.
“We are very proud of the work and success of the sanctuary. The park should be a safe place for wildlife and for visitors wanting to immerse themselves in nature.
“The staff member’s reported actions do not align with our approach to managing wildlife. We want to assure you that we are looking into it and will take the appropriate next steps.”
The council said the staff member would not be working at the park while the matter was investigated and would “focus on other park-related work”.
“As this is an employment matter, we will not be commenting any further.”
Shakespear Regional Park, located on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, is a wildlife sanctuary and open sanctuary area where native species are protected under strict conservation protocols.
