39056 (2026). Tākuta Ferris to the Minister of Conservation

Written Question

Published date: 15 Sep 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	39056 (2026)
Question asked:	01 Sep 2026
Member asking:	Tākuta Ferris
Portfolio:	Minister of Conservation
Minister replying:	Hon Tama Potaka
Answer received:	09 Sep 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_39056_2026
Document guid:	3593eae9-cc9c-4d8f-814a-7bd3c8423c08

39056 (2026). Tākuta Ferris to the Minister of Conservation: What consideration, modelling, or other work, if any, was done on the likely mortality and population consequences of H5N1 for little penguins/kororā?

Hon Tama Potaka: I am advised that the Department of Conservation has not assessed the impact of H5 bird flu on kororā / little blue penguins. Kororā are not classified as threatened, so while H5 bird flu may cause losses, the national population is considered large enough to withstand this.