- Conservation status
- In serious trouble
Similar to their cousins, the pūteketeke, weweia base themselves on ponds and lakes. They have no tail and hold their rump high when swimming. They're eggs are vulnerable to predators, so they cover their nests with weeds when they have to dash out to the 'shops' for a quick bite.
Campaign Manager
Melissa Boardman
Melissa is an illustrator and photographer with a big passion for New Zealand’s native birds and a real soft spot for weweia New Zealand dabchicks!
Melissa spends a lot of time bird watching, gathering inspiration for her illustrations, and creating a range of products that celebrate our amazing native birds like calendars, greeting cards, art prints, t-shirts, stationery, and enamel pins.
Since moving to Lake Ōkāreka where a number of weweia reside, she has spent many hours watching these little endemic grebes float, dive, dance, and even raise tiny greeblings on the lake.
Melissa is a wildlife advocate and conservation volunteer, she serves a trapline along the shoreline where weweia nest and routinely picks up rubbish to help keep their home clean.
Join the "we love weweia" movement, follow along for all the fun memes, cute photos and videos of these dancing donuts. Vote weweia New Zealand dabchick for Bird of the Year!
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