Kōtuku breeding site safer than ever

The annual return of the kōtuku, to their sole New Zealand nesting site is underway. Over the past few weeks, these elegant birds have been arriving daily and settling into their breeding grounds within the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve, near Whataroa on the West Coast of the South Island.

Dion Arnold, whose family has run White Heron Sanctuary Tours since 1987, is excited about what this year holds for the rare kōtuku. “This season, we are aiming for a predator-free Nature Reserve.”

The predator-free initiative is part of the larger Predator Free South Westland project, a bold five-year mission to eradicate possums, rats, and stoats from 100,000 hectares of land stretching between the Whataroa and Waiau (Waiho) Rivers, the Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana, and the Tasman Sea / Te Tai-o-Rēhua. This year, the lower Whataroa Valley and the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve have become the focus of this elimination effort.

Working with Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) and the Department of Conservation (DOC), a range of methods—including aerial application of toxin, ground-based toxins, traps, and an extensive network of cameras and devices—are being used to achieve and maintain a predator-free environment.

“Previously we maintained a trapping network around the kōtuku nesting site, but this was more of a suppression method to protect these precious birds," Arnold says. "Now, with the ZIP team moving in and pushing for full elimination, we’re aiming for no pests at all in the reserve and surrounding areas.”

“This is something quite remarkable and game-changing to be a part of. With a predator-free reserve, the nesting Kōtuku have a far better chance of successfully raising their chicks without the threat of ground-based predators. This initiative will also be of great benefit to all the native flora and fauna in the area.”

The return of the kōtuku also holds cultural significance. Featured on New Zealand’s $2 coin, the kōtuku is a symbol of grace and rarity. With a population of only around 150-200, they are critically endangered in New Zealand. In Māori tradition, seeing a kōtuku even once in a lifetime is considered a sign of great fortune. To liken someone to a Kōtuku is to pay them the highest compliment.

Arnold says while spotting a lone kōtuku is rare, witnessing dozens of pairs interacting and raising their young in their natural habitat is a truly extraordinary experience.