Weka: more than a campsite kleptomaniac

May 2026

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May 2026

Fun fact: weka poop their body weight every day. Photo: Michael Szabo
The weka is well known to trampers for its thieving ways. Lesser known is the important conservation role it plays. The feisty weka is well known to trampers as the mischievous rail that snatches shiny objects and food, from car keys to biscuits! But while this backcountry ‘bad-boy’ may be a campsite kleptomaniac, that’s not […]
Michael Szabo

About the author

Michael Szabo

Michael Szabo is the author of Wild Wellington and Native Birds of Aotearoa, editor of Birds New Zealand magazine, and writes for Greenpeace Aotearoa. He has explored all 14 national parks, the Chatham Islands and the Subantarctic Islands. He has also written for New Scientist, NZ Geographic, Sunday Star Times and The Listener, and is a former editor of Forest & Bird magazine. He has a joint honours degree in communications and cultural studies from the University of Leeds. His favourite food is bagels.

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