“He kotuku rerenga tahi” – “a white heron’s flight is seen but once.”

This whakatauki, or proverb, is used to indicate a very special, rare event and is also applied to visitors of importance. The kōtuku is common in Australia, the South Pacific and Asia.

In New Zealand, the Kōtuku only breeds in the colony in the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve. near Whataroa, South Westland, between September and February. The species was almost exterminated to meet demand for the ornamental feathers it displays during breeding. The breeding site on the Waitangiroto River was discovered in 1865. By 1941, there were only four nests. At this time, the Waitangiroto site was declared a reserve and wildlife refuge and patrolled at breeding time. These images were taken in December 2024, when there were 59 nests.