Have you seen the Moho Pererū?
Become a Banded Rail Bandit!
The Moho Pererū (Banded Rail) is a secretive native bird quietly disappearing from our wetlands. Its decline is a red flag—our ecosystems are in trouble.
We’re calling on you to help. Join our mission to map habitats, support predator control, and take simple, everyday actions that make a real impact. Together, we can protect the Moho Pererū and revive the health of our wetlands for all species.
Ready to become a Banded Rail Bandit? Choose the options below that reflect how you’d like to help. Every bit counts.
Meet the Moho Pererū:
Our Secretive Saltmarsh Resident
The Moho Pererū, or Banded Rail, is one of Aotearoa’s shyest wetland birds. These secretive creatures prefer to stay hidden, often moving about quietly at night, so spotting one is a special moment.
They forage tentatively within the saltmarsh and if in a daring mood, along the chenier. They rarely venture into open spaces. Their diet includes snails, crabs, insects, worms, spiders, and the occasional dead fish. This foraging is typically at dawn and dusk and as the tide goes out.
You might recognise them by their striped belly and a reddish line near the eye - like a little mask, or a cartoon bandit! Their calls sound like cackling laughter and are most often heard in the early morning or evening.
Moho Pererū live mainly in mangroves and saltmarshes across Northland, Auckland, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty. We are lucky to have some residing in Kaipātiki. In spring and summer, they nest mindfully in thick sedges just above the ground or water, laying a handful of speckled eggs that hatch after about three weeks.
These watchful birds may be hard to spot, but they’re vital to the health of our coastal ecosystems. When we learn about them and care for their habitats, we’re not just protecting a rare taonga - we’re nurturing the whole environment, and in turn, supporting our own wellbeing.
