Kiwi: New Zealand native land birds - Department of Conservation
Tokoeka – literally meaning 'weka with a walking stick' (Ngāi Tahu) - has three geographically and genetically distinct forms: Haast, Fiordland, and Rakiura (Stewart Island). The kiwi is a unique and curious bird: it cannot fly, has loose, hair-like feathers, strong legs and no tail. Learn more about the kiwi, the national icon of New ...
Kākāpō: New Zealand native land birds - Department of …
The kākāpō is a large green parrot with a distinctive owl-like face and a waddling gait. They cannot fly, but they climb well. Kākāpō are: the heaviest parrot species in the world – smaller females weigh 1.4 kg, and males 2.2 kg. And they can …
Facts about kiwi: NZ Native birds - Department of Conservation
Kiwi are ratites. The closest relatives to today’s kiwi are the extinct elephant birds from Madagascar. They are also related to emus and cassowaries of Australia, and the extinct moa of New Zealand. There are five species of kiwi: Kiwi can live for between 25 and 50 years. Chicks hatch fully feathered.
Yellow-eyed penguin/hoiho: Sea and shore birds - Department of …
The 2019 estimate was 265 breeding pairs, a 65% decline in 20 years. The decline was due to a series of poor breeding seasons caused by lack of food, disease and predators. Unfortunately a 2020 survey on Rakiura showed a similar pattern of decline (c. 71%) from 154 pairs in 2008/09 to 44 pairs in 2020/21.
Stoats: Pests - Department of Conservation
Birds that nest in holes in tree trunks such as mohua, kākā and yellow-crowned kākāriki are easy prey for stoats who can take out eggs, chicks and incubating adults in one attack. Stoats are implicated in the extinction of South Island subspecies of bush wren, laughing owl and New Zealand thrush. Even a 3 kg takahe or 2 kg kakapo can be ...
Tuatara: New Zealand reptiles - Department of Conservation
Tuatara are New Zealand’s largest reptile. Adult males are about 0.5 metres in length, and weigh up to 1.5 kg when fully grown. The male has a distinctive crest of spines running along the neck and down the back. He can erect these spines to attract …
Habitat and islands: Kākāpō - Department of Conservation
Whenua Hou is a nature reserve 3km west of Stewart Island/Rakiura. The first kākāpō were transferred there in 1987, and rats were eradicated in 1998. Whenua Hou is the centre for Kākāpō Recovery in New Zealand. It provides kākāpō with habitat similar to the original home of many founding birds in the population, Rakiura.
Milford Track: Fiordland National Park, Fiordland region
Te Rua-o-te-moko/Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre. Phone. +64 3 249 7924. Email. [email protected]. Address. Lakefront Drive. Te Anau 9600.
New Zealand native plants: Conservation - Department of …
The native flora of New Zealand is unique as it evolved in isolation for millions of years. 80% of our trees, ferns and flowering plants are endemic (found only in New Zealand). About 10–15% of the total land area of New Zealand is covered with native flora, from tall kauri and kohekohe forests to rainforest dominated by rimu, beech, tawa ...
Eels: New Zealand freshwater fish - Department of Conservation
Freshwater eels in New Zealand. Tuna – ā tātou taonga. There are two main types of eel – the shortfin and the longfin. There are fewer eels today because of the loss of wetlands and historical commercial fishing practice. Currently the commercial eel fishery is managed by the Ministry for Primary Industries under the Quota Management System.