These 5 New Zealand nature record holders include the tallest, largest, and longest living species. Here are just a few of the standout species that call these islands home. I am always fascinated with watching or seeing the best. I love watching the best athletes…
Here are 5 white native flowers in New Zealand. These are some common native white flowers that you’ll see in the wilds of New Zealand. I love hiking all across the world and one of my favourite things to encounter when hiking is a meadow…
Heketara is an endemic tree daisy in New Zealand. Here are 6 facts about this tree that has lovely clusters of white flowers in the spring. The native forests of New Zealand are lush, full of vegetation from the emergent Rata and Rimu trees to…
Lancewood is a unique native New Zealand tree that can be easily identified. Here are 7 facts about this common tree, including its two growth stages. I feel like I’ve been a bit remiss in not talking about Lancewood before. Lancewood is one of the…
The native pukatea tree can grow some humongous buttress roots. Read about why puakatea trees have these unique plank buttress roots here. New Zealand is full of unique trees that grow nowhere else in the world. Some, such as the Pohutukawa, produce beautiful red flowers,…
Spring is in the air and for many birds that means it’s time to start breeding. Here are some facts about tomtit breeding – the how, what, when, and where. In New Zealand spring starts on 1 September. Since that time I’ve been seeing a…
The native totara tree grows to a huge size and is common across New Zealand. Learn 6 facts about this tree, including why Maori revere it. As a pakeha and non-native to New Zealand it has taken me time to learn and appreciate many of…
New Zealand Sea Lions can be found along the coasts of the southern part of the South Island. Here are 10 facts about these native marine mammals. Prior to the arrival of people to these amazing islands, there were many types of large animals such…
Hebe is one of the most common types of plants in New Zealand. Here are 8 facts about it, focusing on the variety found on Mt. Taranaki, Veronica stricta egmontiana. Considering the fact that this is the most common type of flowering plant in the…
New Zealand’s native tawa tree is common throughout lowland forests in the country. Here are 7 facts about this abundant native tree. I will be honest with you here, it took me a long time to learn about and be able to identify tawa trees.…