The bushwren (Xenicus longipes), also known as the mātuhituhi in the Māori language, was a very small and almost flightless bird that was endemic to New Zealand.

They built spherical nests near the ground with an entrance on the side, and typically laid two eggs in November or December.

[2] It was widespread throughout the main islands of the country until the late 19th century when mustelids were introduced and joined rats as invasive mammalian predators.

[3][4][5] Apparently, the last population lived in the area where Te Urewera National Park was established, just around the time of its extinction.

The last authenticated reports of the South Island subspecies (X. l. longipes) were from Arthur's Pass in 1966 and Nelson Lakes National Park in 1968.