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Dispersal of colour-banded South Island Pied Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus finschi from a breeding area on farmland in mid-Canterbury, New Zealand, was investigated from December 1987 to September 1997. Most moved north and were away from the breeding area from late December to mid-July. All birds spent this time at coastal sites, which ranged from 97 to 834 km from their breeding area. Distances travelled by males and females and birds of all ages were similar. Birds had high fidelity to wintering sites within and between years. Pair bonds were not maintained in winter and there was no evidence that fledglings accompanied their parents to wintering sites.