The New Zealand bittern (Botaurus novaezelandiae) is an extinct and enigmatic species of heron in the family Ardeidae.

[5][6] In 1980, New Zealand palaeontologist Peter L. Horn found subfossil bones of a bittern from Lake Poukawa, which he named Dupetor flavicollis.

[4] Although subfossil remains have been found in the North Island, reports of living birds may have been of misidentified Australasian bitterns.

The first scientific specimen was reportedly obtained at Tauranga in the North Island by the Reverend Mr Stack in 1836, but is now untraceable.

[8][10] Walter Buller quotes a Mr Docherty, who was familiar with the bird in Westland: They are to be found on the salt-water lagoons on the seashore, always hugging the timbered side of the same.