Story: Ngā manu – birds

Migrating kūaka

Migrating kūaka

The kūaka (godwit) migrates north in autumn, and is often likened to spirits of the dead departing this world. When many people die at the same time, they are compared to a flock of migrating kūaka.

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New Zealand Herald
Photograph by Greg Bowker

Permission of the New Zealand Herald must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Kelly Keane-Tuala, 'Ngā manu – birds - Birds associated with death', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/12150/migrating-kuaka (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Kelly Keane-Tuala, published 24 Sep 2007, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015