Presenter Nicola Toki (née Vallance) hits the slopes of Treble Cone ski field near Wanaka to discover what it's like to work and play alongside the "clown of the alps" — kea. The native alpine parrot loves to investigate fascinating things humans leave around, but can get over enthusiastic with cars. Treble Cone manager Jackie van der Voort appreciates the "real flavour" the birds add, while the Department of Conservation concedes keas can cause a lot of damage. Meet the Locals is a partnership series between DOC and TVNZ, showcasing people who work to protect natural areas, heritage sites and native species.
Their attraction to people and their paraphernalia is a two-edged sword, providing both new threats and new opportunities.– New Zealand Birds Online information on kea
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