Zoo bred only three kaka for Zealandia

Wellington Zoo chief executive Karen Fifield (Opinion, April 3) overstated the zoo’s role in breeding kaka for restoration at Zealandia. Three zoo-bred kaka were released at Zealandia in 2007, and two are now breeding. Their gene pool is well represented, so no further zoo-bred releases have occurred.

The estimated 200 kaka in the wild population monitored by Zealandia are free to come and go as they please. Through supplementary feeding and nestboxes, they are encouraged to breed in Zealandia, where they are safe from predators who attack and eat the mother and chicks in their nest.

A dedicated group of volunteers monitor breeding success in Zealandia, but otherwise don’t in- terfere. The rest is left up to the kaka who, without the threat of predators, have no problem doing what nature intended.

This season, 20 kaka pairs produced more than 63 fledglings. Many of these gorgeous native parrots are now regulars in our gardens and on our balconies.

We agree the zoo’s animal hospital, The Nest, is outstanding and we appreciate the care it provides for Wellington’s sick and injured birds, including those found at Zealandia.

JUDI and LINTON MILLER Zealandia volunteer kaka monitors I see moving are tourists wondering what they should be looking at.

I am sure that Zealandia is performing a valuable function, not least in waking the local residents up early with the dawn chorus, but the best description one could apply to it in terms of visitor appeal is worthy but dull; a bit like watching the Hurricanes.

I realise that by saying this I condemn myself to the status of scientific philistine, and I will have to bear that burden but, when I fork out some money, I do like to be entertained, even if it is just a lion yawning. BEN THOMAS

Upper Hutt schools are spurious at best (Letters, March 31). One of the beauties of the New Zealand GST system is its universality. Every sector pays, and all parts of the education sector, state, integrated or private, pay GST.

To suggest private schools should somehow get special consideration for paying GST would be laughable except she is probably serious and perhaps truly believes in the argument. Of course, she is supporting a system wherein parents make themselves feel good by paying these private school fees.

If it gives them pleasure, fine, just don’t expect taxpayer subsidies for doing it. Why one would pay (including GST) for something available almost for free elsewhere remains to me one of life’s enduring mysteries. GRAHAM DICK

Masterton