Kaipātiki’s wetlands are buzzing with exciting news. The rare banded rail (moho pererū) has successfully bred right here in Beach Haven.
This success is thanks in part to the Kaipātiki Local Board, whose funding and support have helped purchase equipment, expand monitoring, and enable predator control and habitat restoration across multiple sites.
Melanie Kenrick, Deputy Chair of the Kaipātiki Local Board, says:
“Seeing the banded rail chicks thriving in our local wetlands is a real highlight for the community. It shows that the work we support on predator control and habitat restoration is making a difference, and it’s inspiring to see volunteers, families, and neighbours all coming together to protect Kaipātiki’s unique wildlife.”
The chicks were first spotted in Beach Haven, with footage captured on 13 January as part of the Banded Rail Bandits citizen-science programme, which launched in October 2025 to help protect this at-risk species.
Check out the adorable chicks in action below!
Community Volunteers at the heart of the project
The project is led by Dion Pou, Senior Restoration Advisor at Pest Free Kaipātiki, alongside a dedicated team of volunteers. These volunteers check trail cameras, log footage, identify predator tracks, and support predator control to create a safer habitat for both chicks and adult banded rails.
PFK staff, including Cameron Holloway (Predator Control Advisor) and Esther Hjelmström (Community & Youth Engagement Coordinator), guide volunteers on camera placement, technical installation, and project coordination.
Why this sighting matters
Banded rails live where land meets sea and rely on healthy saltmarsh habitats, ecosystems facing increasing pressures from sediment, pollution, sea-level rise, and predators.
Because they are ground nesters, successful breeding is a strong indicator that predator control and habitat restoration efforts are working. In other words, if the banded rail is thriving, the whole saltmarsh ecosystem is likely healthy.
As Pest Free Kaipātiki General Manager Annie Dignan says,
“It’s incredibly special to see a story like this unfolding right here in our own backyard in Auckland. People often think rare wildlife only exists in places like Fiordland, but sightings like this show that local restoration truly matters, and together, we can protect and strengthen Kaipātiki’s precious saltmarsh habitats.”
How you can join the citizen science effort
Motion-activated trail cameras capture footage whenever birds pass by which volunteers then review and log.
If you want to be part of this exciting project, whether helping monitor cameras, reporting sightings, or supporting predator control, you can sign up as an “Audacious and Daring Bandit” here: Join the Banded Rail Bandits
Together, our community is showing that local action truly matters, helping both people and the environment.
Stay up to date
Want to stay up to date with all the latest news from your area? Sign up for your Local Board E-news and get the latest direct to your inbox each month