Kōrero: Rural language
Image
The kea, a native mountain parrot, was notorious for attacking sheep and pecking at the fat around their kidneys. This gave rise to the adjective ‘kea’d’ and the verb ‘to kea’.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Alexander Turnbull Library, Making New Zealand Centennial Collection (PAColl-3060)
Reference: PUBL-0223-184
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang
Dianne Bardsley, Rural language – Farming difficulties, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/artwork/18602/a-kead-sheep (accessed 27 October 2025).
He kōrero nā Dianne Bardsley, i tāngia i te 1 March 2009.