Westland Petrel Conservation Trust
The Westland Petrel Conservation Trust and DOC release fledglings found disoriented, but others are not so lucky and can be hit by a car or eaten by predators.
Residents of a West Coast community are concerned a proposed sand mine will destroy a wildlife hotspot and significantly increase heavy traffic on a spectacular scenic drive. Barrytown locals are calling for the West Coast Regional Council and the Grey District Council to allow public consultation on a proposal to mine 5000 tonnes of “mildly radioactive” heavy mineral concentrate from 115 hectares of private farmland every week. The land is on the Coast Road tourist drive (State Highway 6), between Greymouth and Punkaiki.
Waka Kotahi / New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) agreed to switch off the lights.
Westland Petrel Conservation Trust chair Bruce Stuart-Menteath said that it seemed to have lessened the problem in Punakaiki, but it was now worse further south in Greymouth. DoC told me they had at least 20 so far and we found another four squashed on the roadside - this is in Greymouth. I only found one squashed on the roadside in Punakaiki, so far this season.
The Department of Conservation (DoC) said with the street lighting turned off in Punakaiki this year, 10 of the birds had crash landed there, instead of the usual 15 to 25.