Three signs have been erected in and around Waikawa beach because Australasian Bittern (Matuku-hūrepo) still live here... and they’re nationally critical, with only a few hundred left across New Zealand.

The signs were made and donated by local resident Will Abel as a passion project, and installed by the Waikawa Beach Environment Group, with help from Will and encouragement and support from Horizons Regional Council. Horowhenua District Council provided permission to place the signs on council land.

The signs depict the three typical Bittern stances and ask the public to do a few simple things to keep them safe:

🐕 Keep dogs on leads;

🚗 Take care driving near wetland areas (the Bittern isn’t very street smart);

🌱 Avoid walking or driving through wetland vegetation;

👀 Report sightings.

If you've seen or heard one, email huritini@xtra.co.nz (photos welcome), or log it on iNaturalist.org.

Predators like rats and stoats are some of the Bitterns' biggest threats, so along with planting and weed control, we’re also running local predator reduction initiatives.

See more of the mahi happening at Waikawa Beach at www.wbeg.net

Every sighting helps — ngā mihi for caring.