Kaikōura Considers New Rules for Cats to Protect Native Birds

The Kaikōura District Council is exploring new regulations for cats as part of a broader effort to protect native bird species, including the banded dotterel. The initiative comes amid growing concerns over the impact of stray and feral cats on local wildlife.

The council has announced plans to draft a new animal control bylaw that includes specific provisions for cats. This move follows pressure from local conservationists, who have highlighted the threat that cats pose to the banded dotterel, a vulnerable bird species that nests along the Kaikōura coastline.

The banded dotterel, known locally as pohowera, is under threat during its nesting season, which runs from September to December. Predators like stray and feral cats are a significant concern, along with other threats such as dogs, vehicles, and human activity. The council is working closely with the SPCA to promote subsidized desexing and microchipping of cats, aiming to improve both feline and environmental health.

"We've looked at what's been done in other councils and we found this is now becoming a lot more mainstream," said Council Chief Executive Will Doughty. "There are benefits from a cat health perspective and it's good from a wider environmental perspective, so it goes beyond just the protecting the birds. But the big thing is in the education."

The new bylaw will be developed over the next 18 months, with public consultation playing a key role in the process. The council has also partnered with Environment Canterbury and the Department of Conservation to explore restrictions on nesting sites, particularly in areas known for high dotterel activity.

Local volunteers have been at the forefront of efforts to protect the dotterel. Ailsa McGilvary-Howard and Ted Howard, a Kaikōura couple, have been actively involved in raising awareness about the plight of the birds. McGilvary-Howard, who has monitored dotterel nests for over a decade, noted that Kaikōura acts like a