Article by Mike Camm, Kiwi Coast Trustee and member of the Pāteke Recovery Group and Tutukaka Landcare Coalition
This year’s annual Northland Pāteke (Brown Teal) Flock Count, coordinated by the Department of Conservation (DOC) with support from Kiwi Coast, Tutukaka Landcare and NorthTec, took place on February 9th. The flock counts help to monitor how the rare ducks are responding to intense predator control and habitat restoration efforts up the east coast of Northland. A graph of the data to date shows that Northland is one of three national strongholds for pāteke, with numbers in the region increasing from around 100 in 2001 to over 500 in 2025, peaking at close to 800 birds in 2014. Not bad for a duck with the dubious status of fourth rarest dabbling duck in the world!
While DOC are still collating the official regional figures for 2026, it was heartening to observe good numbers of pāteke locally and hear similar anecdotal reports from other established flock count sites in light of the devastating case of botulism witnessed on one of our main flock sites on the Tutukaka Coast – the Settling Ponds for the Ngunguru Sewage system. This was detected on January 3rd by Scott Brooks who keeps a regular check on the wildlife frequenting the ponds. Prior to the outbreak upwards of 100 pāteke were regularly present on the ponds.
While the pāteke observed during the February counts all looked healthy, the botulism outbreak severely impacted the local population.
A pāteke observed during the botulism outbreak on the Ngunguru Settling Ponds in January 2026.
Photo: Scott Brooks
It’s estimated somewhere between 50 to 100 pāteke died during the Ngunguru botulism outbreak – approximately 3% of the national population.
Other birds impacted included paradise ducks, Australian Shovelers mallards and greys. This is the first event of this nature we are aware of during the life of the Ngunguru Settling Ponds. If nothing else acts a wake up call to the relevant organisations involved to work to establish a contingency plan in case of future outbreaks.
On the bright side, when Kiwi Coast checked in with mana whenua and community conservation projects with good numbers of pāteke in their area – such Whananaki, Mimiwhangata and Pataua North – their pāteke were alive and well, with no other reports of botulism.
Advice from Fish and Game indicates that botulism is a common event throughout New Zealand, and in Waikato and Hawkes Bay in the region of 15,000 birds die from botulism annually. Ouch!!
Sobering just how quickly things can go astray.
Twelve pāteke were counted on the Settling Ponds during the February Annual Flock Count, and over 20 were seen on the Ngunguru River between McAuley’s Stream and Captain Percy’s landing. This as well as small groups in ponds throughout the Tutukaka Coast.
We’ll give an updated report once the 2026 data is finalised by DOC. In the meantime we will keep working with mana whenua, community projects, agencies and organisations who are all keen to ensure that pāteke continue to flourish and spread across Te Tai Tokerau.
Credits: Pateke photo – Malcolm Pullman; Pateke Graph data source – DOC
