Kea proof bins. Photo: Supplied / Westland District Council
The Westland District Council has resorted to designing special kea proof bins in a bid to keep the cheeky taonga out.
The Department of Conservation approached the council about getting some bins for Franz Josef so the kea couldn't break into them and raid them for food.
Council operations manager Erle Bencich said it discovered none of the bins available were fit for purpose so it decided to tackle the problem in a New Zealand first approach.
"So, we put our engineering skills to good use and in conjunction with a supplier came up with a lid design that has a spring-loaded door with a narrow aperture, which fits on the standard receptacle base," Bencich said.
Seven of the 240 litre bins with kea proof lids were installed in Franz Josef this week.
"It would be great to see them installed across the country wherever cheeky kea are getting into public rubbish bins."
The lids and bins were manufactured by Tilley Group Ltd.