Manu Kaewa
Aotearoa, through the eyes of the birds
Guided bird photography and nature tours led by mātauranga Māori: traditional names, stories, and the relationships between people, manu, and place.
Each tour shares the traditional names, stories, and significance of the species we meet — and the native plants, food sources, and ecosystems that hold them together.
Whether you’re a seasoned photographer, a keen birder, or simply someone who likes to slow down outdoors, you’re welcome. Come to observe, learn, and connect with the landscape.
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Nau mai, haere mai
More than finding and photographing birds — every tour is grounded in te reo and mātauranga Māori.
Where we go
Every tour is grounded in te reo and mātauranga Māori: traditional names, stories, and the relationships that tie people, manu, and place together.
Wetland & shorebird tours
Braided riverbeds, tidal estuaries, and coastal lagoons hold some of New Zealand’s most important habitat for native and migratory birds. We follow the ecology of the water’s edge, the challenges facing many of these species, and the mātauranga tied to wetlands and waterways, plus traditional uses of wetland plants and historical food-gathering practices.
Available as a half-day or full-day tour. Species regularly encountered include:
- Kōtare · Sacred kingfisher
- Kāhu · Harrier hawk
- Poaka · Pied stilt
- Tōrea · SI pied oystercatcher
- Tōrea pango · Variable oystercatcher
- Pohowera · Banded dotterel
- Kōtuku-ngutupapa · Royal spoonbill
- Matuku moana · White-faced heron
- Pūtangitangi · Paradise shelduck
- Tētē · Grey teal
- Pāpango · NZ scaup
- Kakīānau · Black swan
- Taranui · Caspian tern
- Kāruhiruhi · Pied shag
- Kawaupaka · Little shag
- Warou · Welcome swallow
- Kuaka · Bar-tailed godwit (seasonal)
Gallery
A selection of recent frames from across Aotearoa.
Tour options
Tours run throughout Canterbury and can be shaped around your interests, target species, and mobility or fitness. Private bookings and small groups are welcome, for photographers, birders, and first-timers alike.
Full day
$500 · 8h
A full day spanning shore, wetland, and forests, or focussing on your favourite habitat, discovering the widest range of species of birds and plants, and diving deep into the kōrero behind them. Price is per person.
Half day
$300 · 4h
Four hours across shore and wetland, or within forest habitats, finding native birds, discovering native plants, learning about their uses, and immersing yourself in traditional stories along the way. Price is per person.