Pukeko turns heads in town
SONIA O'REGAN
17/08/2012
A pukeko on a shopping spree turned heads in Blenheim this morning.
The native bird, nicknamed Vernon, first headed to the National Bank. He was not buzzed in through the electronic doors, and headed off along Market St.
Just like the bird on the Genesis Energy television advertisement, the pukeko appeared to be scoping out unconventional items for a nest. He wandered into the Good 2 U discount store and tried to retrieve the metal binding spiral of a text book.
Marlborough Express photographer Scott Hammond took pictures before working with the owner of the store, Paul Lim, to place the bird in a box to prevent it from coming to harm in traffic.
A passerby, Rex Gapper, said the bird had been hanging around town for weeks and he had nicknamed it Vernon, after his brother.
National Bank branch manager Nicky Strong offered the use of a back foyer where the bird was happily ensconced for a few hours with a bowl of water, awaiting collection.
''He's nice and safe, he's not going to get hit by cars,'' she said.
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