Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council
At the heart of the Mackenzie lakes district, a huge nesting colony of an internationally-famous bird — the pūteketeke/crested grebe — is a great indicator of community action and how nature can respond positively when we care for our lakes.
One of the most encouraging examples of nature’s resilience can be seen in a small creek on the eastern shores of Lake Alexandrina, tucked away in the Mackenzie Basin.
This creek, serene and quiet thanks to a lack of motorised boats in the lake, has become a sanctuary for the pūteketeke/crested grebe. Over the past five years, more than 60 nesting pairs have taken up residence along a short 50-metre stretch of water connecting Lake Alexandrina to the nearby Lake McGregor.
The bird was made famous in 2023 when American comedian and talk show host John Oliver got in behind the pūteketeke bid to be Forest and Bird’s Bird of the Century. It won in a landslide and his “alarmingly aggressive” campaign elicited more than $600,000 in donations to the charity.
Pūteketeke nesting at Lake Alexandrina
The Love Our Lakes crew caught up with Dean Nelson, a Department of Conservation (DOC) Senior Ranger for threatened species who’s committed the entirety of his working life to protecting our cherished natural environment.
“Here at Lake Alexandrina, we have a colony of pūteketeke, or crested grebe. Usually, they aren’t colonial nesters but for some reason over the last five years they’ve ended up nesting in large numbers in this short little stretch of creek,” Nelson said.
“It’s become pretty well known, especially for wildlife photographers. A lot of people come here because the opportunity to see all the bird’s life stages up so close is really cool.”
Nelson visits the colony on a weekly basis to check on their numbers and to chat with locals about the significance of the site.
“We put up a permanent fence to keep people back a bit and give the birds some room, and there’s a group of local volunteers who trap the area too,” he said.
Nelson started his career with DOC in the early 1980s and has been based in Twizel for the last 20 years.
“We have a number of iconic and threatened special in the Mackenzie Basin and possibly if we didn’t do anything about it they’d be extinct or going extinct so it’s really important we can help them out.”
Look after our environment to protect nature
The pūteketeke at Lake Alexandrina are proof that when we care for our lakes, nature responds.
By following Love Our Lakes principles — disposing of waste properly, keeping waterways clean, and respecting wildlife — we can ensure that places like this are healthy for future generations.
Whether you’re camping, fishing, or simply enjoying the beauty of the Mackenzie Basin, every action counts toward protecting these special environments.
Since 2016, the Love Our Lakes campaign has asked locals and visitors to take a moment, appreciate the beauty around them, and make responsible choices when it comes to enjoying our lakes.
It’s run by the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee and promotes behaviour that will protect our lakes, not just for today but for generations to come.
Simple steps include:
- use the public toilets, and plan toilet stops during the day
- responsible disposal of rubbish, or take it home with you
- washing clothes and dishes away from waterways
- check, clean, dry your boating gear to stop the spread of aquatic pests.
The actions we all take in and around the water make a difference.
