The Whenua Hou diving petrel (Pelecanoides georgicus whenuahouensis) known also as Kuaka, is a highly endangered subspecies of the South Georgia diving petrel that is endemic to New Zealand.

[4] Only one extremely small population (less than 150 individuals) currently exists, breeding on the predator-free Whenua Hou island.

There, it displays the unique nesting practice of burrowing into the sand dunes overlooking Sealers Bay, unlike the South Georgia diving petrel which nests on rocky slopes or flat land.

It was extirpated from Auckland due to nest destruction by New Zealand sea lions,[6] while on Stewart it was extirpated due to nest predation by the introduced Polynesian rat.

They are also threatened by the advance of coastal forest and invasive grasses and herbs over the dunes,[5] as well as sea level rise due to climate change.