Extra friendly/smart Kapiti pukeko

NOT AFRAID: With a friendly pukeko at New World Kapiti, from left, checkout supervisor Lisa MacIsaac, duty manager Nicky Alofi, and checkout manager Sue Fowler.

An especially friendly pukeko has been causing lots of interest for customers and staff at New World Kapiti.

The pukeko, nicknamed Percy, has been a daily visitor to the supermarket located in the Kapiti Coast Airport business precinct off Kapiti Rd, Paraparaumu, for about three months.

The pukeko, whose home seems to be at the back of the supermarket in among greenery, enjoys walking to the front of the supermarket at various times of the day and sometimes is waiting at the door for the daily 7am opening.

It enjoys inspecting the trolleys, gobbling up bits of food [one day someone bought him a packet of sushi which he enjoyed], trying to enter the store, and loves interacting with people.

"He's really tame and will let customers pat him," duty manager Nicky Alofi says.

"Customers love him and will often say 'where's the pukeko'."

"He even walks into the store.

"The furthest he's been is to the produce area.

"We pick him up and take him outside again."

The pukeko is also living proof that the species has some intellect.

Checkout manager Sue Fowler said a customer found him a long way down Kapiti Rd and walked back with him.

"But once they had to cross the road Percy sat down and waited to be picked up. Once they got across Percy started walking again.

"On another occasion a guy was standing outside and had his shoelaces undone.

"Some kids were trying to scare it the other day but he loved it and wouldn't budge."

Checkout supervisor Lisa MacIsaac said the pukeko had worked out how to use the door sensors.

"He'll stand by the sensor pole and wait for the doors to open before entering.

"And he'll stand on one leg so people think he's got one leg and will feed him, then he moves the leg he's tucked away back down.

"We just hope nothing happens to him because he's too friendly."