Kererū (kūkupa, kūkū), New Zealand Pigeon

Kererū is in the picture here. The bird cloaks iridescent green and bronze feathers on its head and a bright white vest and sits on a branch. The kowhai flowering is displayed along the branch stem. Copyrights Joanne Bowe – NZ Artist and her website is www.JoanneBoweArtist.com

This year, this picture was a birthday gift from my brother from Hamilton, New Zealand. I have not framed this picture yet as it sits on my work table at home. Every day I am in the office here and look at the picture because it reminds me how life’s contrast impacts human lives every day.

Today is the first day of June, and it has been four months (1st of February) since we witnessed and were involved in the severe three-car accident site next to our property. I am a deaf Christian through my family’s strong connection to Christianity over many years. I have remained in solid faith throughout my life whenever I go and am constantly safe before coming home or leaving home for work, shopping and home visits. 

Māori have had a solid connection to kererū for many years. Currently, farmland owners and conversation teams regularly check in the forests, bushes, and farmlands to avoid gradually declining in areas where predation and illegal hunting are unchecked. Let’s look at the details about Kererū and why this native bird is rare and protected from having an extinction of birds in Aotearoa (New Zealand). 

“Māori have an enduring relationship with kererū that goes back to the arrival of the first canoes – a spiritual connection that transcends mere sustenance.

Iwi in former kererū strongholds – Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Tuhoe, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Whanganui, Te Ātiawa, and Ngāi Tahu – hold a particular reverence for kererū, which frequently features in tribal myths and lore.” https://kererudiscovery.org.nz/about-kereru/

What do the Kererū symbolise? They are symbolic of guardianship, forewarning, grief and awareness for Māori. “Are you taking enough care for yourself and your whānau and your provider, Papatūānuku (Earth Mother).” The kererū’s colourful feathers were used to make cloaks.

https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/nz-pigeon-kereru/

Recently our neighbour and his family moved to Morrinsville for a new pasture, and yes, he was one of us at the accident site. They are moving forward with a fresh start in their lives. We are not going anywhere, and we are staying put as it is our home. The battle with the Land Transport NZ and the Waikato District Council is not done, and they are working with us on improving the corner in the intersection, putting up new signs and reviewing road safety for school buses. But we are getting there and keeping the communication open to everyone here.

Now it is the Winter season, and the plan of growing sunflower sections is underway in our large open fields surrounded by five cherry trees in a straight line.