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Pūkeko

Name: Pūkeko
Brand: Metalbird New Zealand
SKU: NZ-REG-PUKE
Price: 74.99 NZD
Availability: InStock

$74.99

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Description

With its purpleish blue body and fab orange legs, the pūkeko has become a kiwiana icon, even though it’s actually an import, dropping in from Australia about a thousand years ago. If you’ve seen pūkeko fly across a small ditch you’ll wonder how on earth they made it over the big one.

Awkward in the air but elegant on the feet, pūkeko are at their best wading, running and having a laugh in big social groups. Similar to the endangered takahē, pūkeko is the swamphen that got a zillion times luckier. Cool up your garden with this sensational bird.

Crafted in New Zealand and designed to last a lifetime outdoors, it’s a gift that embraces the classic Kiwi Summer!

Our Pūkeko is:
✓ Kiwiana-lover – 21 cm H × 31 cm W, approx. 300 g
✓ Perfect for posting – Fits our standard A4 gift box (31 × 21 × 1 cm)
✓ Fast, fuss-free shipping – Same-day dispatch on weekday orders before 2pm
✓ Made in New Zealand – Locally crafted in a family-owned workshop
✓ Built to weather well – 3 mm Corten® steel develops a natural patina
✓ Easy to install – Just tap the stake with a hammer on a downward angle

How to get it perfectly perched:

1. Choose a spot with solid ground, garden beds, native bush zones, or coastal tracks are all ideal
2. Hold the stake at a gentle downward angle, and insert directly into firm soil or grass
3. If you're short on soft earth, wedge between stones, sleepers, or planter boxes
4. Check it’s upright, then step back and admire your nocturnal neighbour

Top Tip: Looks especially striking at sunrise or sunset, when the silhouette really pops.

Why is the Pūkeko so special?
Pūkeko are the vibrant, bold characters of Aotearoa’s wetlands — famous for their striking blue feathers, bright red beaks, and unmistakable swagger. They’re social, sassy, and full of personality, which is exactly why they’re so loved.

Where’s the best place to install it?
Anywhere with firm soil or a stable nook. Slip it between garden stones, wedge it into planter boxes, or settle it beside a pond or path. If it’s snug, you’re sorted.

Will it hold up in wild weather?
Too right. It’s made from 3mm Corten® steel, which develops a beautiful weathered patina while staying solid for decades. Rain, wind, sun — this Pūkeko is built to brave the elements.

Does it need tools to install?
Aside from a hammer, not usually. A firm push does the trick. But if you’re dealing with tougher ground, a few pre drilled holes will help guide the stake.

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$74.99

AS SEEN IN

Each Metalbird is crafted from Corten® Steel, a premium, weathering steel made to last.

When it meets the elements, it doesn’t rust like your old BBQ. It transforms.

That change you’re seeing? That’s patina. A tough, protective outer layer that seals the steel, adds character, and preserves your bird for decades.

This isn’t paint. It’s nature’s way of ageing gracefully.

The Patina Process:

At first, you’ll notice bright orange spots (we call this the teenage phase). Soon enough, the whole bird will turn a bold orange, slowly shifting into deep burnt umber. Eventually, it settles into a moody charcoal that feels like it’s always belonged.

The Result? A piece of industrial art with a heartbeat. No peeling, no fading, just a bird that gets better with age.