The New Zealand pigeon — a large, vibrantly plumaged native bird with iridescent green and purple feathers and a loud, distinctive wingbeat.
The New Zealand pigeon — a large, vibrantly plumaged native bird with iridescent green and purple feathers and a loud, distinctive wingbeat. Culturally significant in Maori tradition, the kereru also plays a key ecological role as one of the few birds large enough to swallow and disperse seeds from big-fruited native trees. It is famous for occasionally becoming visibly intoxicated after eating fermented berries.
Kereru means: The New Zealand pigeon - a large, vibrantly plumaged native bird with iridescent green and purple feathers and a loud, distinctive wingbeat. Culturally significant in Maori tradition, the kereru. It is mainly New Zealand English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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(NZ) The New Zealand pigeon.
The Maori name for the New Zealand pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae), a large, striking native bird with iridescent green and bronze plumage and a distinctive white breast. Kukupa is widely used in New Zealand alongside the alternative Maori name 'kereru,' and both names appear in everyday conversation, conservation writing, and news media. The bird is a taonga (treasure) species for Maori and plays an important ecological role as a seed disperser for native trees. It is also known for its loud, whooshing wingbeats.
(NZ) The morepork.
(New Zealand) The kingfisher.
A kereru landed heavily in the puriri tree outside, sending leaves scattering with the thud of its wings.
Kereru means: The New Zealand pigeon - a large, vibrantly plumaged native bird with iridescent green and purple feathers and a loud, distinctive wingbeat. Culturally significant in Maori tradition, the kereru. It is mainly New Zealand English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour.
kereru means: The New Zealand pigeon - a large, vibrantly plumaged native bird with iridescent green and purple feathers and a loud, distinctive wingbeat. Culturally significant in Maori. Register: informal, New Zealand English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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(NZ) The New Zealand pigeon (species ).
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