Bird Flu Hits Native Hawks in NZ | Auckland News

Auckland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 17, 2026 · 1m

Bird flu hits New Zealand again — this time a native kāhu hawk in Wairarapa, following a brown skua found on Petone Beach. No poultry affected yet, but the government is ramping up surveillance, offering support to farmers, and forming a science advisory team. Hawks can catch the virus from other birds, especially near coasts, so free-range farmers are urged to house birds temporarily — though it’s voluntary. Chicken and eggs remain safe to eat, and human risk is minimal. Globally, H5N1 is spreading, and New Zealand is already vaccinating endangered species like kākapō and takahē, with more…