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Natal philopatry of 859 Southern Buller’s Mollymawks (Diomedea bulleri bulleri) banded as chicks on North East Island, The Snares (48″02’S, 166″36’E), during August 1972 was investigated during 1977 to 1998. Eighty-six birds were recaptured as breeders; 57 of these were recorded within 100 m of their natal nest area and 29 dispersed over distances ranging from 100 m to 2430 m. The gender of 32 birds was determined by measurements of minimum bill depth and tarsus width, or by their behaviour. Of 17 males, 15 were found breeding within 100 m of their natal site and the remaining two birds dispersed 100 – 200 m. Of the 15 females, five were breeding within 100 m of their natal site and the remainder had dispersed 100 – 1640 m.