Kea keeps the customers coming

Press, 14 July 1982, Page 33

Kea keeps the customers coming

Joe has been a boisterous resident at the Junction Hotel. Commercial Street. Takaka. for quite a fewyears and visitors to the pub never seem to tire of his antics.

He is likely to jump on a pool table and knock the balls about, roll over, hop up on the bar and help himself to a drink or cigarette, take off on a wild flight or terrorise any customer whom he believes to be afraid of him.

In fact, his incredible behavour became so wellknown that he once made, a television apearance. .

First appearances, however, can be deceptive, and Nola Drummond, the owner of this formidable individual considers her 14-year-old pet kea quite a lovable pushover.

Nola, the wife of the hotel proprietor, Graham Drummond, thinks, of Joe' as just another member of the family.

“He eats what we eat-a little bit of everything.' Nola said.. "He was given to us 14 years ago as a little, fluffy chick. In fact, we thought at first that he was a seagull. My father-in-law. Wally Drummond, found him up on the Cobb. "Funnily enough, after all those years, we're still not quite sure of his sex—he could be Joe or Josephine. "He comes into the bar with me each morning and helps with the tills. But I only bring him in during business hours if someone asks because he has a habit of biting some people. If he can tell someone is afraid, he just gives them hell. “The wildlife people have come to have a look at him and we got a licence to keep him after 14 years. That's a long time to have a kea. especially if you still don't know- much about them. "He has a varied diet, which includes the occasional cigarette, but we do not give him any spirits. That is only a rumour that he had some rum last Anzac Day. • If he likes a photographer he will put on a bit of a

show. But normally he just freezes in front of the camera or plays hide and seek. “Joe has had a fair share of publicity on TV and has even appeared in the /Australian press.

"He also likes being picked up. All people have to do is hold out a finger and he will hang on to it with his beak. You can then lift him and put him on your arm or shoulder," Nola’ said reassuringly.