Bring Back the Mātātā (Fernbird)

The Whau River Catchment Trust is working to restore healthier streams and wetlands around the Whau River estuary through community participation and kaitiakitanga (guardianship and protection). We deliver a wide range of community-based environmental projects, principally in collaboration with Auckland Council and other key stakeholders within the catchment. This includes programmes and projects in the areas of ecological restoration and conservation.

Mātātā (fernbird) are endemic (unique) to Aotearoa New Zealand and are now classed as "at risk or declining". Their numbers have declined significantly since humans began draining wetlands and they have disappeared from large areas of Aotearoa. Other threats include predation by introduced mammal such as cats, rats, dogs and mustelids (stoats, weasels, ferrets). Bring Back the Mātātā (Fernbird).

This project is working to create mātātā habitat - dense, twiggy, coastal fringes - to encourage this secretive bird to return and nest. The work you do will help to…