The native parrot has been spotted by Oamaru residents as it has explored properties from Holmes Hill, to Chelmer St - a long way from its usual forest habitat.
For the past two weeks, it has visited Ivan and Pat Edmondston's Queens Cres property every day.
''I was down in the garden and the bird flew right past my ear,'' Mrs Edmondston said of the kaka's first appearance.
''For a start I thought I'd brushed against dead leaves; that's what it sounded like.
''He went right past me, as if he was going to land on my shoulder, and then landed in the tree [and] then he started making noises.''
Mrs Edmondston said her family had enjoyed watching the parrot visit and were surprised by how close they could get to it.
''He is massive; he's so big,'' she said.
''He's there every day, usually around lunchtime.''
The kaka had been landing on a banksia tree at the bottom of the property where there are bird feeders, also regularly used by tui.
The ''cheeky'' bird was quite noisy and squawked on its arrival and departure, she said.
They called the Department of Conservation. Ranger Tom Waterhouse visited the property and expressed his surprise that a kaka had come this far north on the east coast.
Its length of stay was also unusual, he said.
Once common throughout New Zealand, kaka (Nestor meridionalis) are now largely limited to a few localised forest strongholds.
The bird could have come from around the Orokonui Ecosanctuary, near Waitati.
Last month, a kaka was also spotted by several Kakanui residents near the Kakanui River mouth.
The native parrot is classified a ''nationally vulnerable'' species.
