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The case for eating weka (eventually), as protected bird ‘occupies problematic conservation niche’
Eastern Buff Weka - native to mainland New Zealand
Reports of a US reality TV contestant who was rapped over the knuckles by DOC after he killed and ate a weka have left some wondering why weka are protected at all.
According to the Wildlife Act of 1953, all native birds are protected, meaning they are owned by the Crown and cannot be hunted, caught or killed.
Like most native New Zealand birds, weka populations have dwindled since the end of the 19th century and are at continued risk from introduced predators, particularly stoats, ferrets and weasels.
Beattie, a serial entrepreneur in the environment and conservation space, used to live on the Chatham Islands and has eaten weka.
They are “perfectly designed for the table”, he said.
“They are the crayfish of the bird world... New Zealand should be famous for weka on the menu.”
In Beattie’s view, farming weka for their meat would have far-reaching benefits for Aotearoa’s environment and ecology.
“We’ve got the ultimate food story with weka because their carbon footprint is very, very low,” he said.