Flora and Fauna in New Zealand

Originally, 80%of New Zealand’s land area was covered in forest. About 23% remains, much of it in national parks, forest parks and reserves. One of the country’s major attractions is this large amount of wilderness, with its many unique and rare species of plants, birds and insects.

Native trees are mostly evergreens, and include giant conifers such as the kauri, rimu and totara and several species of beach. About three-quarters of the native flowering plants are unique; subalpine species in particular are of interest to botanists. On the coast, large native flax, teoteo and pampas grass, and mangroves in the north are common roadside sights, asare the large costal pohutukawa trees. These are known as the “New Zealand Christmas tree” because their red flowers appear abundantly in December.

The only native land mammals are two species of bat, and many unique flightless birds fill the ecological niches elsewhere occupied by mammals. The kiwi, New Zealand’s national bird, named for its call, is nocturnal; it is the size of a small hen, with vestigial wings strong legs, and nostrils on the end of its long beak, which it uses to detect the earthworms which form its diet. It may be seen at several zoos and aviaries throughout New Zealand, in special enclosures where the kiwi is deluded into thinking day is night.

There is also the small native owl, known as the morepork because of its cry; the colorful paradise duck; the vivid greenish-blue kingfisher; and numerous sea birds which, by their nature, are also found on other shores. But most common native birds are quite different from their overseas relatives; the pert fantail, which often accompanies trampers for the insect they disturb; the large and colorful native pigeon; the small and appealing wax eye; the tui, a singer and mimic with an unusual white wattle at its throat; and the shy bellbird, rarely seen but often heard singing beautifully.

New Zealand has range of small reptiles, including the tuatara, the only known species of a separate order of reptiles and a close living relative of the dinosaur. No snakes, native or introduced, live in New Zealand and none of the reptiles are poisonous or harmful. All are unique to New Zealand, as are virtually all of the native insects, spiders and snails and all the earthworms. The world’s heaviest insect is the weta, a large cricket-like creature of fierce appearance, but harmless unless annoyed. Giant snails and unique frogs survive in isolated environments on mountains and islands. Many fish species are unique to New Zealand waters.

Agricultural crops and livestock are vital to the economy. Introduced pine trees, grown commercially for pulp and lumber, help to preserve the native forests, since they grow faster and more readily than any native species, and the can be seen in extensive forest.

Some introduced animals have adapted so well that they are classified as noxious animals for their effect on native plant and bird life; opossums Australia have multiplied to the extent that there are an estimated 50 million of them New Zealand. Several introduced plants are also treated as noxious, including gorse, broom and old man’s beard (Clematis vitalba).

Over 150 native plants, or 10% of the species, and many native birds are considered endangered. The Department of conservation and non-governmental conservation organizations work together top reserve them and to educate New Zealanders and visitors on conservation issues.