As an aspiring biologist, New Zealand’s wildlife is a gem to me. On these islands, a truly unique ecosystem has been able to develop and thrive. More than 50% of the animal species are endemic and can only be found here.
My spirit animal: the only parrot that calls the mountains its home. As smart as a six-year-old, this cheeky bird loves to demolish man-made structures and troll humans. They have even developed clever food-stealing strategies – while one poses for photos, the others grab food from distracted backpackers.
The name “Tuatara” is Māori for “peaks on the back,” and the term “living fossil” couldn’t fit any better. With a lifespan of more than 100 years and a lineage dating back over 200 million years, the tuatara is the last surviving member of the order Rhynchocephalia – a true dinosaur.
Let me reintroduce the world’s largest rail to you. Believed to be extinct twice, this flightless bird was rediscovered in the 1950s and, through conservation efforts, has recovered to a wild population of around 500 individuals.
In Māori tradition, the ruru is considered a kaitiaki (guardian) and a messenger from the spirit world. This relatively small owl earned its name thanks to its remarkable “ru-ru” cry. I stumbled upon this encounter very unexpectedly in the middle of the day on the Heaphy Trail.
The Keas even more noisy brother. Native to forest canopies, these social birds use strong, hooked beaks and brush-like tongues to eat nectar, seeds, and wood-boring grubs.
