Kōtuku in the Canal

Kotuku - New Zealand White Heron

In Mãori oratory, the most telling compliment is to liken someone to Kotuku. It symbolizes everything rare and beautiful. It was said that Kotuku is an inhabitant of the nether world, the spirit land of Reinga, and that an old funeral chant ends with these words to the departed: "Ko to kotuku to tapui, e Tama e - Kotuku is now thy sole companion, O my son. So seldom does any kotuku appear in any locality that "rare as the Kotuku has passed into a proverb among the Mãori people. 

I got lucky this morning - I saw one fishing in the Linwood Canal. I managed to capture it flying too, which I've not achieved before. It's in Extra. Was I excited? Sure was :)