The bells of Waiapu Cathedral in Napier will ring out a special peal across the city at 2pm on Saturday 12 October to welcome back to Ahuriri Estuary the bar-tailed godwit or kuaka.

The pealing bells coincide with the start of Ahuriri Estuary Protection Society’s ‘Welcome the Godwits’ walk and talk at the estuary.

The birds make an incredible 12,000 kilometre flight across the Pacific to roost in our local wetlands for summer feeding.   

“We enjoy pealing the bells to celebrate the return of these amazing creatures from their epic journey – they mark the start of summer and remind us of the value of our beautiful wetlands for them to feed and rest in,” says Di Woods, Dean of Waiapu Cathedral.

Keith James, the leading Cathedral bellringer, will make the kuaka peal. 

The Ahuriri godwits breed in Alaska during the northern summer and then make the non-stop flight to New Zealand. Technology enables us to track them as they fly south.  They arrive very tired and hungry, so the health of the estuary is important to their wellbeing as it is a key food supply.  Other godwits groups roost in wetlands in other parts of New Zealand. 

The birds will stay in Ahuriri until March when they will return to Alaska via a stopover to improve their health ready for breeding in the northern summer.

People can discover more about these brave birds and their incredible flight at the Ahuriri Estuary Protection Society’s walk and talk.  The walk starts at the carpark opposite Westshore Beach Inn on Meeanee Quay and details are on the society’s Facebook page.