Native+Animals

In New Zealand we have a variety of unique native animals. We have different kinds of native fish, birds, lizards, insects, mammals and frogs.

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=New Zealand's __Morepork__=

====  The Morepork is one of the best known bird in New Zealand. When a Morepork (an owl) has died, their feathers are used as decoration for a Maori cloak, only if it’s needed. The Morepork is nocturnal so they are awake at night. The species makes a calm, soothing sound at night. That’s why they got the name Morepork, the sound they make at night is ‘mawpawk, mawpawk’. An owls features is a brown colour, usually light and dark brown. Their face is quite big and their eyes are wide. Owl eat insects, spiders, earthworms (which has 10 hearts)! They also eat fish, small mammals and birds. The owl is a protected species in New Zealand. ==== 

= New Zealands Tuatara = The Tuatara is a rare species of reptile that are only found in New Zealand. The Tuatara is a reptile that is usually olive, grey and sometimes a red colour like a brick. Males grow twice the size of female Tuataras and weigh up to 1 kilogram. The Tuatara is scaly with a spine that sticks out, the name Tuatara means old spiny back in Maori. The Tuatara is especially known for being the only survivor of an ancient group of reptiles that lived on earth the same time as dinosaurs. This reptile has hardly changed over 225 million years.

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Kiwis are a native animal to New Zealand,. They got their name because when they are ready to mate the male kiwi calls out “Kiiwii”. Kiwi is also a Maori name. Kiwi’s have long beaks with nostrils on the tip for sniffing out their food like worms, spiders and other insects. Their beaks also have organs that help them to feel vibrations in the soil that helps them find wriggling insects underground when they poke their beak deep into the dirt. Kiwi also like to eat the fruit of native plant’s. Kiwis have wings but they are very small which means Kiwis are flightless. The Kiwi has trouble getting away from predators like cats, dogs and stoats. Kiwi feathers are rough, shaggy and brown and have special patterns and colours to camouflage them on the ground. Kiwis have a very good smell, some say they smell like a forest mushroom. Dogs can smell them from far away. Female Kiwis lay enormous eggs that can take up about 20% of their body weight around 430g. The egg has a large yolk in it that helps feed the chick. There are many kinds of Kiwi’s. Kiwi’s are only found in New Zealand. Kiwi’s defend them-selves by kicking with there sharp claws and feet. Kiwis are an endangered species. The feathers of the kiwi are used Maori cloaks! New Zealanders are often named or referred to as Kiwis. By Chantelle

=== Kaimanawa horses originated in New Zealand, they are a hard and quite tempered breed of horse. They are mostly wild and live on the side of the desert road on the way to Taupo, a town in New Zealand. They live in herds of around twenty including mares and their foals. Kaimanawa horses were used for hunting and in 1979 there were only up to around 174 horses along the Desert Road and in the Kaimanawa Ranges. The government decided to protect them in 1981 and by the time of 1994 there was already 1500 horses living there without threat until the government decided that because they were trampling the plants and shrubs for the other wildlife in the reserve also along the desert road. From then they were taken in musters to slaughter houses and used as rifle practise for the NZ army and defens force. Fortunately there is a group of New Zealanders who are trying to stop the unnecessary killing of the Kaimanawa horses. They’re called the Kaimananwa wild horse trust who are protesting and protecting the wild Kaimanawas. ===

By Maddie
The Tui is a common bird to New Zealand. Tui's have feather-like tails and are brown. They can be found in native forests. The Tui feeds on nectar from flowers and native plants. The Tui will live where there is a balance of ground cover, shrubs and trees.The Tui is very aggressive, they will chase off other Tui and birds. Breeding takes place between September and October. Tui have been known to defend themselves against Magpies and even "mob" harriers. The Tui has suffered in the past with the introduction of predators such as possums, feral, cats, rats, stoats and ferrets. Tui also eat native insects and fruit. During Winter and early Spring, Tui will range far and wide in search of nectar bearing flowers. This is the time when they are most common in urban gardens and when they feed on non-native plants. Tui are important to the forest because they pollinate forest flowers and spread medium and small seeds. When the bird pokes its head into a flower to reach the nectar, pollen sticks to its head feathers. Then when the bird flies to another flower the pollen brushes onto the sticky stigma and a seed begins to form. By Te Atawhai