Parrot Power: Wellington Kākā and the Emergence of More‐Than‐Human Urban Cultures
Abstract
ABSTRACT This article examines the Wellington kākā as cultural beings engaged in dynamic relationships of becoming with their environment and other species. Through a practice of more‐than‐human storytelling that deliberately and politically decentres the human, we challenge the view that the 2002 kākā translocation was a ‘reintroduction’ of an unchanged, ancient species. Instead, we argue, the kākā worked in relation with modern conservation, biosecurity practices and urban entities to develop a new, distinctive cultural population. Intimately entangled with biosecurity practices, the kākā's successful establishment in Wellington demonstrates their capacity for adaptation and creative engagement with novel actors.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Anthropological Studies and Insights
Indian and Buddhist Studies
Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- New Zealand Geographer
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Volume
- 82
- Issue
- 1
- Publication date
- 1 March 2026
- Language
- EN