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Visit NZ's ONLY Kōtuku, White Heron Nesting Colony!
The Kōtuku, White Heron
Kōtuku
White Heron
Eastern great egret
Ardea alba modesta
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In New Zealand, this stunning wading bird is known as the White Heron, or by its Māori name, Kōtuku.
Renowned for its striking white plumage, long slender neck, and elegant stature, the Kōtuku is the tallest of our native birds. It grows to nearly one metre in height, weighs approximately one kilogram, and has an impressive wingspan of around 1.7 metres. While generally quiet, it has a distinctive guttural croak.
It is believed that the New Zealand White Heron colony was established several hundred years ago by windblown birds naturally arriving from Australia.
Although widespread across Asia and Australasia, the White Heron has always been rare in New Zealand, where it exists at the geographic and climatic extremes of its range.
Here in Aotearoa, the Kōtuku is classified as Nationally Critical under the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS), with a small but stable population of approximately 150–200 individuals.
The Kōtuku breeds exclusively at the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve near Whataroa on the West Coast of the South Island. This is the only nesting site ever known for the White Heron in Aotearoa. The colony’s complete reliance on this single breeding location highlights its fragility, and the critical importance of protecting the unique Waitangiroto Nature Reserve.
To safeguard New Zealand's only Kōtuku breeding colony, public access to the nesting site and the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve is strictly controlled. Independent access is not permitted, and all forms of boating, as well as low-flying aircraft, are prohibited. Access to the Kōtuku nesting site is only available through guided tours operated by a single authorised tour company - White Heron Sanctuary Tours, based in Whataroa.
The New Zealand $2.00 coin features Maurice Conly’s exquisite design of the White Heron in flight - the Kōtuku being the only non-endemic bird to appear on the country’s coinage. This rare honour reflects the deep cultural and natural significance of the Kōtuku to the people of Aotearoa.
‘He Kōtuku rerenga tahi’
the White Heron of a single flight
The Kōtuku has long been revered in Māori culture as a taonga species and a symbol of rarity, prestige, and good fortune. Featured in many legends and proverbial sayings, its pure white plumage and spectacular breeding plumes set it apart from other birds. Like those of the Huia, the feathers of the Kōtuku were symbols of great mana, particularly the highly prized breeding plumes, which could be worn only by men of high rank. A sighting of the Kōtuku was considered an extraordinary, almost mythical event, and its rarity, particularly in the North Island, further enhanced its mystique. The phrase ‘He Kōtuku rerenga tahi’ - loosely translated as 'a White Heron's flight is seen but once' - was used to honour distinguished visitors, signifying a rare and momentous occasion. To be compared to the Kōtuku was a mark of exceptional esteem. When Queen Elizabeth II became the first reigning monarch to visit New Zealand in 1953–54, Māori bestowed upon her the title Te Kōtuku, likening her to the rare and revered bird, a once-in-a-lifetime visitor embodying grace and distinction. The significance of the Kōtuku extends beyond the physical realm, and in Māori mythology, it is said to accompany the wairua, or spirit of the deceased, from the earth to the stars, further strengthening its association with the spiritual world.
the breeding White heron
In September, as spring arrives, the Kōtuku return from their individual wintering grounds to their exclusive nesting site in the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve, where they transform into their spectacular breeding plumage. They have grown long, lacy plumes, or aigrettes, on their backs, which they display like peacocks. Their beaks change from yellow to black, and around their eyes a bright emerald/turquoise blue colour develops. Both male and female birds exhibit these striking changes as they prepare for mating. White Herons do not form lifelong pairs. Each season, they engage in elaborate courtship rituals, such as feather displays, neck stretching, and beak snapping. These behaviours showcase the strength and fitness of both sexes, helping them attract a suitable partner. Once a mate is chosen, the pair builds a simple platform nest made of sticks and twigs. An average of three blue-coloured eggs are laid, with both parents sharing the 28-day incubation period. The Kōtuku produces a range of distinctive vocalisations at the nesting site, including guttural croaks, sharp squawks, and soft murmurs or bill clattering, which are used during nest interactions, pair bonding, territorial displays, and to alert others to potential threats. Just one brood is raised each season. Of the chicks that hatch, typically only one or two per nest survive to fledge. The success of each nesting season can vary significantly, influenced by factors such as storms and prolonged cold, wet weather - especially common in spring - river and waterway conditions for wading and fishing, food availability, and predator numbers, all of which fluctuate from year to year. Fortunately, there are many rivers, lakes, lagoons, and feeding grounds in the area suitable for the wading Kōtuku. Their main diet consists of fish, including whitebait, flounder, and eel. Both adults take turns guarding the nest and finding food, semi-digesting it and regurgitating it for their offspring. As the chicks grow and their food requirements increase, they are left alone more often, with their parents returning regularly to feed them. During the post-guard stage, chicks and even fledglings remain vulnerable to predators, particularly the Swamp Harrier. At around 10 weeks of age, the chicks will fledge the nest and become independent. They often remain in the vicinity of the nesting site for a further 2-3 weeks as they refine their flying and feeding skills, gaining confidence before fully dispersing. These young birds reach maturity at around three years of age, after which they return to the colony to begin nesting. Most will continue to return annually for about ten years. Their average lifespan is estimated to be around fifteen years.
The Enigmatic
Nesting Grounds
In 1865 surveyor Gerhard Mueller wrote the first recorded sighting of the White Heron nesting colony after encountering 50-60 birds while exploring the Waitangiroto River. Today, this very same site remains New Zealand's only known Kōtuku breeding ground.
Its longevity is likely due to its remoteness and the relatively small number of nesting birds, which helps preserve the vegetation. Additionally, public access to this area is strictly controlled, with all boating prohibited, and a flight ban enforced. All visitors must be part of an organised guided tour, and observers concealed in a viewing hide.
Why the White Herons have only one nesting site in New Zealand — and why it is here, at this particular location, remains one of nature’s enduring mysteries.
History of Preservation
After the discovery of the Kōtuku nesting site in the late 1800s, global demand for egret feathers reduced the colony to just six nests by 1877. Despite legal protection in 1888, numbers continued to decline.
Initial efforts to safeguard the White Heron's breeding ground began in 1924, but by 1941, the colony was on the brink of extinction, with only four nests recorded.
This alarming decline spurred conservation efforts, and in 1949, the nesting site and its surrounding area was declared a Flora and Fauna Nature Reserve.
In 1976, this protected area was expanded and officially designated the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve with entry by permit only. It is currently administered by the Department of Conservation.
feeding behaviour
Kōtuku are expert hunters, relying on their sharp eyesight and quick reflexes to capture a variety of prey, including fish, eels, amphibians, reptiles, insects, and occasionally small mammals and birds.
Generally solitary waders, they stalk their prey with slow, deliberate movements before striking with their sharp bill. They often manipulate their catch, shaking or repositioning it so it is aligned correctly for swallowing.
White Herons have several adaptations that allow them to safely consume large and thrashing, living prey, such as eels, without the risk of choking or injury.
Their versatility and skill in handling various types of prey allow them to take full advantage of diverse food sources found within their wetland habitats.
Outside of the
nesting season
Once the White Herons have finished their nesting, they disperse individually, all across New Zealand.
They do not migrate overseas.
Adults commonly return directly to familiar wintering grounds, while juveniles will explore before eventually settling and establishing their own territories.
During autumn and winter, sightings of these rare birds are reported to us from all over Aotearoa - the South Island, North Island and Stewart Island.
White Herons are predominantly solitary outside the breeding season. Their distinctive appearance makes them highly conspicuous, and sightings often attract public interest.
