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Visit NZ's ONLY Kōtuku, White Heron Nesting Colony!
Conservation in the Waitangiroto
At White Heron Sanctuary Tours, our core mission is to protect the Kōtuku.
As guardians of the only nesting site of the Kōtuku or White Heron in Aotearoa - we carry a deep responsibility to protect this beloved taonga species, preserve its ancestral breeding grounds, and the fragile wetland environment it depends on, and honour its place within New Zealand's natural and cultural heritage.
Access to the protected Waitangiroto Nature Reserve is strictly controlled by the Department of Conservation.
Our exclusive guided tours operate under a special concession and offer the only opportunity for the public to witness the nesting White Herons.
Each visit is carefully managed to minimise disruption and ensure the long-term protection of both the Kōtuku and their sole nesting habitat.
Our conservation
commitment
Our conservation focus is to protect the nesting Kōtuku and preserve the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve.
Adhering to our concession protocols, we carefully manage visitor access and activities at the breeding grounds to minimise disturbance and prioritise the safety and welfare of the White Herons and other nesting birds.
Our essential predator control work includes regular trapline checks, rebaiting and detailed recording of catches.
We conduct comprehensive ongoing data collection of the nesting Kōtuku, and closely monitor bird behaviour and environmental conditions throughout the season and year.
Working with the Department of Conservation we share findings and address emerging challenges, ensuring the ongoing protection of the White Heron Sanctuary.
Partnering for
protection
We’re proud to work with the Department of Conservation, and ZIP, Zero Invasive Predators to protect the Kotuku.
It’s exciting to be part of ZIP’s Predator-Free South Westland project — using innovative trapping, baiting, and detection techniques — and to see positive, tangible results, with native birds like the Yellow-crowned Kākāriki beginning to return.
In addition to assisting ZIP’s work, we’ve spent over 30 years running our own intensive predator control programme in and around the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve — now managing more than 200 traps.
Together, these combined efforts are defending this fragile ecosystem, strengthening its resilience, and supporting a future where the Kōtuku and other native wildlife can thrive free from ground-based predators.
progress and hope
For the kōtuku
Once hunted to the brink of extinction for its prized plumage, the Kōtuku’s survival is one of New Zealand's most powerful conservation success stories.
The White Heron has always existed as a small, vulnerable population here, with only one known nesting site at the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve, near Whataroa.
In 1941, just four nests were recorded — a chilling reminder of how close we came to losing this national treasure.
Thanks to decades of dedicated conservation, the number of breeding pairs has gradually increased.
Although the birds are not banded or tracked, ongoing monitoring shows a slow but steady rise in their numbers.
With continued commitment to their protection, the future of the New Zealand White Heron remains hopeful.
Inspiring conservation Through Education
By upholding the Tiaki Promise, we ensure our tours respect, protect, support, and promote nature, while honouring the Kōtuku and New Zealand's cultural heritage.
Our guides share the magic of the Kōtuku, while revealing the care and dedication needed to protect it.
Visitors can assist in checking traps, and gain insight into the challenges we face in preserving this unique ecosystem.
Witnessing the nesting Kōtuku leaves a lasting impression, and it is encouraging to see our visitors depart with a renewed sense of responsibility and a deeper commitment to safeguarding Aotearoa's precious wildlife and whenua.
Together, we can work to ensure our country's natural treasures are protected for future generations to enjoy.
