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Story: Hawke’s Bay region

Cape Kidnappers gannet colony

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Cape Kidnappers hosts the largest mainland colony of gannets in New Zealand. The colony is part of a Department of Conservation reserve. The birds nest and hatch their young at Cape Kidnappers between September and December each year. Sheep are allowed to graze in the reserve.

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Natural History New Zealand

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How to cite this page

Kerryn Pollock, Hawke’s Bay region – Plants and animals, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/23883/cape-kidnappers-gannet-colony (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 22 January 2010, updated 1 July 2015.