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UPDATE - 3pm, Friday 4 July

Crews assessing damage and keeping watch following yesterday’s deluge which has caused widespread flooding across the district, impacting roads, parks and wastewater networks.

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Pukekura Park
Kararehe Mohoao

Wildlife

Check out the varied wildlife that live in the park.

Birds

Duck at the main lake

Brown Tree Frog/Whistling Tree Frog

Brown Tree Frog/Whistling Tree Frog. Photo credit: Nathan Hills.

Gold stripe gecko

Gold-Stripe Gecko. Photo credit: Nathan Hills.

Birds

Pukekura Park is famous for its large variety of native and introduced trees which in turn attract many species of resident and visiting birds. Some birds commonly seen include tui, kereru (New Zealand Wood pigeon), sparrows, starlings, blackbirds, thrush, wax eyes, ducks, and shags. For a few weeks a year a few visiting kaka (forest parrots) can be heard or seen. Bird surveys have revealed up to 18 different species of birds can be seen in one hour.

Wood Pigeons (Kereru)

Wood Pigeons (Kereru)

Tui in a Kowhai tree

Tui in a Kowhai tree

Duck and her ducklings

Duck and her ducklings

Kereru in a tamarillo tree

Kereru in a tamarillo tree

Amphibians

Pukekura Park has three species of introduced Australian frogs: Brown tree frog/ Whistling tree frog (Litoria ewingii), Southern Bell Frog (Litoria raniformis) and Green and Golden Bell frog (Litoria aurea).

All species of frogs call to attract mates at certain times of the year. Brown tree frog’s high pitched call can be heard during most calm nights. The other two species are only heard calling from the lakes and ponds during certain days in November and December.

Green and Golden Bell Frog. Photo credit: Nathan Hills.

Green and Golden Bell Frog. Photo credit: Nathan Hills.

Southern Bell Frog. Photo credit: Nathan Hills.

Southern Bell Frog. Photo credit: Nathan Hills.

Reptiles

Pukekura Park is believed to have a variety of New Zealand skinks and geckos. Sightings are rare given their secretive lifestyles and, for some, nocturnal habits.

One of the geckos that has been seen on more than one occasion is the Taranaki Gold-Stripe Gecko (Hoplodactylus chrysosireticus).

Gold-Stripe Gecko. Photo credit: Nathan Hills.

Gold-Stripe Gecko. Photo credit: Nathan Hills.

Fish

Fish in the Fernery Display House.

hedgehog

Hedgehog. Photo credit: Nathan Hills.

slug

Native Leaf Veined Slug. Photo credit: Nathan Hills.

Fish

Pukekura Park does not have a large variety of fish living within its waterways. This is largely to do with several man-made structures preventing upstream migration of fish.

Species known from surveys to live in the park include eels, banded kokopu, goldfish and perch. Large schools of goldfish can be seen on sunny days particularly in the large lakes, and a few large eels still remain. The famous Pukekura Park Great Eel Hunt was stopped in 2001 to allow eel stocks to improve due to dwindling numbers.

Eel

Eel in fountain lake

Fish in the Fernery Display House.

Fish in the Fernery Display House

Mammals

Pukekura Park, like other areas in New Zealand, has a variety of introduced mammals. These are rarely encountered given their mostly nocturnal habits. Hedgehogs are more likely to be encountered during an evening or early morning stroll.

Hedgehog Footprints. Photo credit: Nathan Hills.

Hedgehog Footprints. Photo credit: Nathan Hills.

Invertebrates

Also know as creepy crawlies.

The park contains a large variety of small animals that can be heard or seen. From noisy cicadas to beautiful butterflies to glow insects (glow worms).

Two of the more famous creepy crawlies are glow worms and freshwater crayfish, both have had student videos made about them.

 

Glow worms in Pukekura Park
Freshwater Crayfish at Pukekura Park

Page last updated: 11:48am Wed 02 July 2025

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