The Department of Conservation is investigating reports a group of kea have been shot near Nelson.
The kea Photo: Thomas Marent / AFP
It said the protected native parrots were allegedly shot at a forestry site in the Golden Downs area.
Kea Conservation Trust spokeswoman Andrea Goodman said about 15 kea were in the area where the shooting supposedly happened.
She said some people could not handle kea causing trouble by getting into mischIef.
"That's where my position has been created at the Top of the South, to try and act as voice for kea and sort out solutions so that people can co-habitate with kea and we can all live happily," she said.
Kea are classified as nationally endangered and are in decline, with their numbers estimated to be fewer than 5000.
Last week, four critically-endangered takahe were shot dead during a cull on the Hauraki Gulf island of Motutapu.
Listen to Andrea Goodman