Was on NZ528 12/08/2017 (Saturday) and the aircraft very suddenly lurched forward, followed by very hard braking. Some yelling was heard in the cabin. That's why you gotta buckle up.

Pilot shortly after announced a "very large bird" may have been ingested in the port-side engine and it is SOP to head back to the gate for maintenance to inspect. Apparently in his 13-year career he had not once had to do the procedure for a bird strike and joked to the amusement of the cabin that "all those hours in the simulator paid off".

Upon further inspection, the aircraft was fine. No bird strike. Happy flying!