When humans first arrived in New Zealand,
there were at least 131 species of land, freshwater and
coastal birds, and another 65 species of seabirds
(gulls, albatrosses, petrels and penguins),
making at least 196 native species in total
, according to a 1997 report
(this count may have risen since as subspecies have been
...Moa were nine species (in six genera) of now-
extinct flightless birds endemic to New Zealand.
The two largest species, Dinornis robustus and Dinornis
novaezealandiae, reached about 3.6 m (12 ft) in height
with neck outstretched, and weighed about 230 kg (510 lb)
Tieke
Tui
Kiwi
Kereru
Kakapo
Ruru
Piripiri
Moho
Pihi Pihi
Maori names
Fantail Pīwakawaka, Tīwakawaka or Piwaiwaka
Nz falcon Karearea, Kārewarewa, Kāiaia,
Kauaua, Kāeaea, Whakarewarewa, Tawaka and Kakarapiti
Rare Birds
Chatham Island snipe and pigeon,
black robin, and fairy tern are in the
top 10 list of New Zealand's rarest birds -
no population exceeds 150 individuals.
The key significance is the high number
of endemic species in New Zealand
Native Trees
- Cabbage tree/tī kōuka. ...
- Chatham Island Christmas tree/rautini. ...
- Chatham Island forget-me-not. ...
- Chatham Islands plants. ...
- Coastal cress. ...
- Dactylanthus. ...
- New Zealand ferns
- Many of New Zealand's animals and plants are not
- found elsewhere – these are known as endemic species.
- For example, over 80% of the 2,500 species of native conifers
- , flowering plants and ferns are found nowhere else.
- And of the 245 species of birds breeding in
- New Zealand before human arrival, 71% were endemic
