These are Australasian gannets or tākapu, which is one of three species of gannet belong to the booby family. They are usually found in large colonies on offshore island around New Zealand and southern Australia and have been nesting at Cape Kidnappers since the 1870s.
These Gannets are quirky birds with interesting eye markings, unusual nest styles and a fascinating courtship dance. They have a wingspan of 2 meters.
Adult gannets arrive at Cape Kidnappers every year around July to begin courtship and nest building. Most gannets will not breed until they are at least 4 or 5 years old. But when they do mate, it is often for life long which can be up to 33 years, although 2024 is more common

A chick will live at this colony for about 15 weeks. In that time its appearance will change dramatically. From its black ‘naked’ birth state, to a white fluffy monthold chick and then, by 3 months it will have become a grey speckled juvenile. At flying age, the average chick will weigh 50 times its 60 gram birth weight. However, most extra fat will be lost once it starts to fly and feed for itself. The chicks depart for their first flight to Australia at 1516 weeks old. This is a remarkable journey because these chicks, which have never been airborne before, take a 2,800 km Tasman Sea crossing to reach Australia. It takes them about 8 days to get there. 7080% of these birds will die during this period. It is the survival of the fittest. 23 years later, the young birds return from Australia to undertake tentative mating. However, it is not until they are five years old that they nest in earnest, after which most spend their life around the coastal New Zealand seas.