Pīpipi
Brown creeper
Mohoua novaeseelandiae
Their Story
Pīpipi (brown creeper) are small, lively songbirds native to the South and Stewart Islands. They are the smallest and most abundant of the three species in the endemic genus Mohoua, which also includes mōhua (yellowhead) and pōpokotea (whitehead).
Occasional sightings of pīpipi have been recorded within the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, though they are easily overlooked. Their plumage — shades of brown, grey and light buff — is subtle but cleanly defined, and males, females and juveniles look alike. In autumn and winter, pīpipi often join mixed flocks with silvereyes, grey warblers, fantails, and where present, kākāriki and mōhua.
They are far more often heard than seen, chattering constantly as they move through the canopy. Their song is a rapid, tumbling whistle — “like someone whistling while doing cartwheels,” as one observer put it.
Pīpipi feed mostly on invertebrates and occasionally on fruit, foraging from about two metres above ground up to the forest canopy. They seldom feed on the ground.
Breeding takes place from September to January. Pīpipi are monogamous and generally pair for life, only seeking a new mate if one dies. Females build small, deep nests high in the canopy and lay 2–4 eggs. The female incubates and broods the chicks, while both parents feed them once hatched. Fledglings leave the nest after 18–22 days and become independent at around 35–65 days.
As females re-nest, males care for fledglings — sometimes helped by non-breeding birds. Pairs may attempt up to four nests in a season, though usually only two broods are successful. During drought years, unsuccessful pairs may cooperate by bringing food to the nests of others.
In the 19th century, pīpipi were abundant, with large flocks often seen alongside tīeke in winter. Their numbers declined due to forest clearance, especially in eastern South Island areas, but appear to be stable today.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
Populations are stable across the South and Stewart Islands.
Population
Widespread and locally common throughout South Island and Stewart Island forests. Occasionally recorded within the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary.
Voice
Constant, lively chatter interspersed with a rapid, tumbling song — often described as “whistling while doing cartwheels.”
Food
Feeds mainly on invertebrates and occasionally fruit, foraging from low branches to the upper canopy.
Subtle in colour though charming up close, pīpipi display a blend of brown and light-buff plumage with a grey face. Males, females, and juveniles look similar. They are small and subtle coloured birds, but they make their presence known with their loud and constant chattering calls in their small flocks.
Active and sociable, pīpipi often forage in small flocks, especially outside the breeding season. They feed mainly on invertebrates such as caterpillars, beetles, spiders, and occasionally fruit. Foraging occurs from a few metres above the ground up to the canopy — rarely on the forest floor. Their quick, tumbling whistles have been described as “like someone whistling while doing cartwheels.”
Breeding takes place from September to February. Pīpipi are monogamous, usually pairing for life. Females build deep, cup-shaped nests high in the canopy and lay 2–4 eggs. The female incubates and broods, while both parents feed the chicks once hatched. Fledglings leave the nest after 18–22 days and become independent within 35–65 days. Males may continue feeding fledglings as females begin new nests, and pairs may attempt up to four clutches per season — though two broods are typical. Remarkably, during drought years, unsuccessful pairs have been seen helping feed neighbouring young, showing rare cooperative behaviour.
Pīpipi inhabit native and exotic forests and shrublands throughout Te Waipounamu and Rakiura. Historically widespread across the South Island, they remain common in western and southern forests. Occasional sightings in the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary suggest the maturing forest may once again support this energetic species.
Once abundant across Aotearoa’s southern forests, pīpipi populations declined with large-scale forest clearance during the 19th century. Today, they are classed as Not Threatened and appear stable, though they have become rare in lowland forests and are vulnerable to introduced predators. Ongoing protection of mature beech and podocarp forests remains key to their survival.
Although not yet resident, pīpipi have been occasionally sighted within the Sanctuary’s upper forest. Their absence remains a small mystery, perhaps having missed the boat like the yellow-crowned kākāriki, which were not long ago heard in the Brook catchment, but have since become exceedingly rare in the Richmond Ranges.
🪶 Pīpipi often form mixed flocks with kākāriki, fantails, grey warblers, and mōhua — an adaptive strategy that may help spot predators or disturb insect food more effectively.
Our other residents
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Win prizes for your best summer photo at the Sanctuary 📸🏆☀️
This season, we want to see the Sanctuary through your lens — the bright light through the canopy, the textures of the forest floor, and the tiny details that make summer feel alive.
Enter our Summer Photography Competition (part of our Sanctuary Seasons series) and you could win:
🏆 Instant camera (Junior Photography winner)
🌙 Family ticket to a guided night tour
📰 Feature in our newsletter + social media
🖼️ Printed display at the Visitor Centre
📅 Entries close 28 February - Submit your entries via our website: Link in bio
Photo credit: Helen Power - Entry from the spring photography competition
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #SanctuarySeasons #Ngahere #NaturePhotography #NZWildlife #NelsonTasman #VisitNelson #NZHikes #EcoTourismNZ #ConservationStorytelling
Feb 4
Looking for a unique and memorable date night? 🌙🌲
This February, we’re introducing Date Me Darling — private, curated date nights inside the Sanctuary at dusk.
Three styled locations. One couple at a time. You’ll have a styled spot along the main loop track, locally sourced food and drinks, a few games to share, and time to slow down together as the forest shifts into evening.
Beech Glade: for when you want the world to fall away — deeply hidden, totally private, just you and the hush of the forest.
River: crystal clear water, canopy above, flickering lights — the kind of setup you usually only see on Instagram.
Meadow: open sky, long grass, and the forest standing quietly at the edges like it knows not to interrupt.
Bookings are open now (limited spaces in February only so don’t miss out!): Link in bio
#DateMeDarling #NelsonNZ #NelsonTasman #ThingsToDoNelson #DateNightIdeas #NatureLovers #SupportLocalNZ #ConservationNZ #BrookWaimāramaSanctuary
Feb 3
Two cute to be true?
Brook Waimārama Sanctuary and @savethekiwinz teams have been busy over the past few days tracking and recapturing kiwi to remove their transmitters. Thanks to a huge team effort, all ten males were recaptured within just three days.
Some nest burrows held a surprise or two — in several cases a female was present, and a couple even contained chicks. One burrow amazed us all, with not one but two adorable chicks 😍
All chicks are fully independent at this stage of the season, and after quick health checks and transmitter removal, all adult kiwi were safely returned to their burrows.
This special footage was captured by kiwi handler Tamsin from Save the Kiwi, who led the transmitter removal mahi.
We estimate the 20 females and 21 males released in May last year have already produced around 10–15 kiwi pukupuku (little spotted kiwi) chicks in their very first breeding season — a strong sign the habitat is just right.
With transmitters now removed from all ten males, the kiwi are completely free, with no further handling needed. Annual kiwi call counts by staff and volunteers will help track the growing population across our 690 ha, ring-fenced, pest-free sanctuary.
Credit: Video courtesy of Tamsin Ward-Smith, Save the Kiwi
Thanks to our partnership with @terunangaotoa Ngati Toa and Save the Kiwi
#kiwipukupuku #littlespottedkiwi #brookwaimaramasanctuary #nelson #thetopofthesouth #conservation #biodiversity #nativebirds #natureloversnz #newzealandwildlife #pestfree #ringfencedsanctuary #conservationinaction
Jan 29
🎻 45 min string quartet concert at Brook Waimārama Sanctuary
Come and hear a dynamic young string quartet perform a 45 min concert at Brook Waimārama Sanctuary. We welcome everyone to come along, and bring anyone you think might be curious to hear some classical music in a relaxed environment.
The @antipodes.quartet is part of the Fellowship Ensemble Programme, a joint venture between the @adamchambermusicfestival, @newzealandstringquartet and @chambermusicnz, as a career-development experience offered to four of this country’s most promising young string players.
The Antipodes Quartet are Eden Annesley (violin), Mana Waiariki (violin), Tal Amoore (viola) and Lavinnia Rae (cello).
On this occasion, Brook Waimārama Sanctuary are welcoming everyone at local prices: Adult $15, Child $9; Family $35 (on the door)
Find out more: (Link in bio)
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #NelsonNZ #Whakatū #WhatsonNelson #NelsonTasman #LiveMusicNZ #ChamberMusicNZ #StringQuartet #ClassicalMusicNZ #AdamChamberMusicFestival #NewZealandStringQuartet #ChamberMusicNewZealand #FamilyFriendly #NatureAndCulture #SupportLocalArts
Jan 27
2026 Bug of the year is here!
The lesser known cousin to bird of the year has come around(wait till they hear about fish or fungus of the year). This showdown aims to highlight the critters that go underappreciated compared to celebrity species like kākāpō. We would like to highlight the strange and wonderful species that occur within the Sanctuary, with the hopes to earn your vote!
Kahuwai | Black Tunnelweb Spider
Porrhothele antipodiana
I have a mixed history with this incredible spider. One hairy individual decided that my jersey pocket was a great place to set up shop. It received a rude awakening upon the home invasion of my unaware hand. Its brilliant fangs pierced and invenomated my finger, and despite the swelling and the shock and the pain… I couldn’t help but feel bad for evicting the guy. Its hobbit-like hole dwelling nature led the spider to my soft, warm pocket. Ironically, but not surprisingly, this species was the inspiration for Peter Jackson’s ‘Shelob’ in the Lord of the Rings films.
Kahuwai, the black tunnelweb spider, forms dense sheets of silk surrounding their tunnels. These sheets are monitored by the spider, who detects vibrations of a passer by. Wētā, land hoppers and any other unlucky invertebrate. The kahuwai swiftly grabs its prey and drags it into the depths. This spider however is also the victim of the endemic golden hunter wasp, who paralyses the spider before dragging it into the wasp’s nest (talk about shoes on the other foot!) and laying an egg beside it. The spider then becomes baby formula.
Despite the bite, this amazing spider has my vote! Check out the New Zealand Bug Of the Year 2026 website! Voting closes on the 16th of February!
Photo: @henry._.hart (in the second image of Shelob`s lair you can see a giant pill millipede has fallen victim...)
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #BugOfTheYear
Jan 25
2026 Bug of the year is here!
The lesser known cousin to bird of the year has come around(wait till they hear about fish or fungus of the year). This showdown aims to highlight the critters that go underappreciated compared to celebrity species like kākāpō. We would like to highlight the strange and wonderful species that occur within the Sanctuary, with the hopes to earn your vote!
This candidate is the beautifully disguised Rō, the Two-Spined Stick Insect. Micrachus hystriculeus is endemic to central Aotearoa, most common from Nelson, through Marlborough and Wellington. Stick insects display a classic example of crypsis. That is, their behaviour and physiology work in tandem to remain completely undetected and unharmed. They feed on leaves high in the canopy of trees like kānuka. At night you can often spot them, usually with the small males riding on the backs of the much larger females.
All modern New Zealand stick insects are the relatives of two colonisation events from New Caledonia around 30 million years ago. They radiated into nine separate genera and dispersed into coastal, lowland and subalpine ecosystems throughout the motu. This species, alongside at least five other stick insect species, live out their slow and sticky lives within the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary.
Will you vote for Micrachus hystriculeus? Check out the New Zealand Bug Of the Year 2026 website! Voting closes on the 16th of February!
Stay tuned for our last candidate…
Photo: Saryu Mae - @invertebratist
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #BugOfTheYear
Jan 24
