Bold and beautiful, the Tūī is one of Aotearoa’s most iconic native birds - and fiercely territorial. These vocal honeyeaters are known to chase away not only other Tūī but also larger species like the kākā, especially when defending prized flowering trees such as kōwhai. As part of the honeyeater family, Tūī thrive on nectar, but their diet also includes fruit and the occasional insect. While feeding, they play a vital ecological role: pollinating native trees like pūriri, kōwhai, fuchsia, rewa