The puriri moth (Aenetus virescens) is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is also commonly called the ghost moth or pepetuna. This moth is endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. It is New Zealand’s largest moth, with a wingspan of up to 150 mm. It spends the first five to six years of its life as Read more…
Wētā have been around long enough to see dinosaurs come and go and to evolve into more than 70 different species, all of them endemic to New Zealand. Image courtesy of Windy Hill Sanctuary Wētā have become icons for invertebrate conservation in New Zealand because many species are threatened or endangered. There are more than 70 species of wētā in Read more…
Peripatus, or velvet worms, are unusual animals of the forest floor. They are called ‘living fossils’ as they are remarkably unchanged from 500 million years ago. Image courtesy of Windy Hill Sanctuary They are also a ‘missing link’ for their similarity to both worms and insects. For this reason they attract much scientific interest—yet they are cryptic, reclusive and not Read more…
The kōura, or freshwater crayfish, is dark green and mottled like the stones it lives amongst on stream bottoms. Image courtesy of Windy Hill Sanctuary Crayfish/kōura are hard to see as they are so well camouflaged. Often their waving feelers and black beady eyes are all that can be seen. They stay hidden during the day, moving around mostly at Read more…
Clematis marmoraria (New Zealand dwarf clematis) is an evergreen plant with parsley-like, leathery and dark green foliage. The white flowers are about 2 cm wide, blooming in early spring. Clematis is a genus of about 300 species within the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. Their garden hybrids have been popular among gardeners, beginning with Clematis × jackmanii, a garden standby since 1862; more Read more…
Kiekie (Freycinetia banksii) is a densely branched, brittle, woody climber native to New Zealand. It is a member of the screwpalm family Pandanaceae. Kiekie has numerous cane-like stems up to 40 mm in diameter, which freely produce aerial roots. It climbs tree trunks, or forms dense tangles on the forest floor. Its stems and leaves are a dominant feature in many Read more…
Kohekohe (Dysoxylum spectabile) is a medium-sized tree native to New Zealand. It is found in lowland and coastal forests throughout most of North Island and also occurs in the Marlborough Sounds in the north of the South Island. Mature trees grow up to 15m in height, with a trunk up to a metre in diameter. Kohekohe forest used to be Read more…
Rātā trees, along with the pōhutukawa, are one of the best known native trees in New Zealand. Image courtesy of Windy Hill Sanctuary Native birds benefit from rātā, but as possum numbers increase the threat to native birds and to rātā has also grown. The rātā and pōhutukawa belong in the myrtle family of trees. Other members include mānuka, kānuka Read more…
The distinctively marked striped skink is one of New Zealand’s least known and rarely seen lizards. Image courtesy of Windy Hill Sanctuary Very little is known of its ecology and habits and all sightings and records of this skink can provide valuable clues to help DOC its continued survival. The species is easily recognised by the pale stripes running down Read more…
The ornate skink is in gradual decline, and needs our help to protect it. Image courtesy of Windy Hill Sanctuary The ornate skink is a threatened species, classified as being in “Gradual Decline”—populations are declining over several generations. It is thought that the decline in some places on the mainland may be partly offset by increases on predator-free offshore islands. Read more…
Geckos have broad heads with large bulging eyes, definite necks, and soft, velvety-looking skin which is covered in very small, granular scales. Images courtesy of Windy Hill Sanctuary There are at least 39 species of gecko in New Zealand. However, only 18 of these have been formally described, and further discoveries of new species are still very likely as we Read more…
The chevron skink is one of New Zealand’s rarest and most secretive lizards. Image courtesy of Windy Hill Sanctuary It is listed as ‘nationally vulnerable’ under DOC’s Threat Classification System. They are currently only known to be found on Great Barrier Island / Aotea and Te Hauturu-o-Toi / Little Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf. There have only been around Read more…
The endangered New Zealand dotterel/tūturiwhatu is found only in this country. New Zealand status: Endemic Found in: Coastal areas around much of the North Island; Stewart Island in the South Threats: Predation, habitat loss, disturbance, tide and storm surges The endangered New Zealand dotterel was once widespread and common. Now there are only about 1,700 birds left, making dotterels more Read more…
Tūī are unique to New Zealand and belong to the honeyeater family, which means they feed mainly on nectar from flowers of native plants. New Zealand status: Endemic Conservation status: Not Threatened Population: Can be locally abundant where there is good pest control and flowering/fruiting habitat. Found in: North, South and Stewart Islands, and their offshore islands Threats: Predation, habitat Read more…
The variable oystercatcher is a large heavily-built shorebird. Adults have black upperparts, their underparts vary from all black, through a range of ‘smudgy’ intermediate states to white. Variable oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor) occur around most of the coastline of New Zealand, and breed most commonly on sandy beaches, sandspits and in dunes. They are very vocal; loud piping is used in Read more…
The North Island robin, also known as toutouwai, is a friendly and trusting bird and is found in both native and exotic forests. Image courtesy of Windy Hill Sanctuary The North Island robin often come close to people, and occasionally stand on a person’s boot. North Island robins measure 18 cm from beak tip to tail tip, and weigh about Read more…
The native morepork is known for its haunting, melancholic call. This sound gives it the Māori name ‘ruru’. Image courtesy of Windy Hill Sanctuary New Zealand status: Native Conservation status: Not Threatened Found in: Forests throughout mainland New Zealand and offshore islands Threats: Predation, loss of habitat Read More at the Department of Conservation Source: Department of Conservation and licensed by greatbarrierisland.nz for re-use Read more…
Known for its friendly ‘cheet cheet’ call and energetic flying antics, the fantail is one of the most common and widely distributed native birds on the New Zealand mainland. In Māori mythology, the fantail was responsible for the presence of death in the world. Maui, thinking he could eradicate death by successfully passing through the goddess of death, Hine-nui-te-po, tried Read more…
The pāteke brown teal is a small dabbling duck endemic to New Zealand. They are the rarest waterfowl on the mainland. New Zealand status: Endemic Conservation status: At Risk–Recovering Found in: Mainly Great Barrier Island, Northland, Coromandel Threats: Predation, habitat disturbance, hunting Species information: Brown teal on NZ Birds Online The species has suffered an ongoing decline in numbers and Read more…
The kingfisher is a distinctive bird with a green-blue back, buff to yellow undersides and a large black bill. It has a broad black eye-stripe, and a white collar in adults. The females are slightly greener and duller. Kingfishers have a wide range of unmusical calls, the most distinctive of which is the staccato ‘kek-kek-kek’ territorial call. Their status is Read more…
Little penguins were common in New Zealand, but most are now on offshore islands where there is less disturbance. Their paddle-like flippers are excellent for ‘flying’ through the water at speeds of up to 6 km/h. Their population and range of has been declining in areas not protected from predators. Where predator control is in place, populations have been stable Read more…
The kererū is a large bird with irridescent green and bronze feathers on its head and a smart white vest. The noisy beat of its wings is a distinctive sound in our forests. Image courtesy of Windy Hill Sanctuary New Zealand status: Endemic Conservation status: Not Threatened Population: Widespread throughout the country Found in: Forested areas, particularly where there is Read more…
The banded rail is a native subspecies which inhabits wetlands throughout New Zealand. New Zealand status: Native Conservation status: At Risk–Declining Found in: Sparsely throughout New Zealand; mainly in mangroves and salt marshes of the upper North Island Threats: Habitat loss, predation, road-kills, human disturbance Image courtesy of Windy Hill Sanctuary Read More at the Department of Conservation Source: Department of Read more…
The kākā is a large parrot belonging to the nestorinae family, a group that includes the kea and the extinct Norfolk Island kākā. New Zealand status: Endemic Conservation status: North Island kākā are At Risk (Recovering); South Island kākā are Nationally Vulnerable, Chatham Islands kaka are extinct. Found in: Large forested areas in the North and South Islands Read More at the Department Read more…