A Look At The Native Birds And Plants Of New Zealand

Without question, the thing that draws the most tourists to New Zealand for a holiday is its unique and varied natural environment: while there are cosmopolitan cities, world class art galleries and endless opportunities for adrenaline based tourist activities, the true draw card is that it is like no other place on earth.

New Zealand has one of the highest levels of endemism in the world: that is many of the plants and birds found in New Zealand are not found anywhere else, due to its long period of geographical isolation and subsequent unique evolutionary path. The absence of predators meant that flightless birds abounded. The arrival of people, and their mammalian companions decimated many of the native species.

However, as early as 1887 a National Park was formed in New Zealand with some 13 following, in the 1890's the Government established mustelid free sanctuaries for the protection of bird species and so a long tradition of conservation was established which continues to this day.

In particular, New Zealand has a greater diversity of seabirds on its shores and islands than any other country in the world. There are some 86 species of seabird that breed in New Zealand and a further 9 who breed elsewhere but visit New Zealand in their migratory cycle. Good places to see seabirds include the Otago Peninsula and Kaikoura, where you can see Albatross, Shearwater, Petrels, Prions and Shags. Many of those staying in holiday park accommodation in Kaikoura are there specifically to see bird life and of course, whale watching.

Another worthy mention is New Zealand's national bird, the Kiwi. This flightless bird generally lives in native forests, but because it is a nocturnal creature, only very few people have spotted it outside its natural habitat in the wild. The Kiwi grows to about the size of a chicken and has a long pointed bill to feed on grubs and other insects.

The flora of New Zealand is also an attraction in its own right. 80% of the trees, ferns and flowering plants in New Zealand are endemic. Some 15% of New Zealand is covered in native plants, from towering kauri forests to spinifex covered sand dunes. In fact the silver fern (cyathea dealbata) is often used as a symbol for New Zealand, notably on the jerseys of its sporting teams. The koru symbol is derived from the young fern frond, and is found on the national carrier Air New Zealand and is a motif in indigenous Maori art and ta moko (tattoos). These unique ecosystems are an integral part of what makes New Zealand such a unique and special destination for holiday makers.

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