In this episode, we sit down with Helen Jamieson from The Forest Bridge Trust to explore one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most elusive and lesser-known birds: the matuku-hūrepo, or Australasian bittern.

Matuku-hūrepo are large, remarkable wetland birds - apex predators, masters of camouflage, and an indicator species of wetland health. But they are also in serious trouble. With less than 1000 remaining in New Zealand, it has been said that “we are the last generation that can save the bittern.”

Helen shares what makes them so special, why they’re so hard to spot, and the major challenges they face - from habitat loss and declining food sources to car strikes and introduced predators.

We also talk about why bittern can be such a powerful species for community conservation. When people understand what matuku-hūrepo are, how  ...