Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Nature Guide to the New Zealand Forest,
by J Dawson and R Lucas, is a beautifully
photographed foray into the world of NZ's forests. These lush treasure houses are home
to ancient species dating from the time of the dinosaurs.
Due to its long isolation, the country is a veritable warehouse of unique and varied
plants, most of which are found nowhere else. And with separation of the landmass oc-
curring before mammals appeared on the scene, birds and insects have evolved in spec-
tacular ways to fill the gaps.
The now-extinct flightless moa, the largest of which grew to 3.5m tall and weighed
over 200kg, browsed open grasslands much as cattle do today (skeletons can be seen at
Auckland Museum), while the smaller kiwi still ekes out a nocturnal living rummaging
among forest leaf litter for insects and worms, much as small mammals do elsewhere.
One of the country's most ferocious-looking insects, the mouse-sized giant weta, mean-
while, has taken on a scavenging role elsewhere filled by rodents.
As one of the last places on Earth to be colonised by humans, NZ was for millennia a
safe laboratory for such risky evolutionary strategies, but with the arrival of Maori and,
soon after, Europeans, things went downhill fast.
Many endemic creatures, including moa and the huia, an exquisite songbird, were
driven to extinction, and the vast forests were cleared for their timber and to make way
for agriculture. Destruction of habitat and the introduction of exotic animals and plants
have taken a terrible environmental toll and New Zealanders are now fighting a rearguard
battle to save what remains.
Birds & Animals
The first Polynesian settlers found little in the way of land mammals - just two species of
bat - but forests, plains and coasts alive with birds. Largely lacking the bright plumage
found elsewhere, NZ's birds - like its endemic plants - have an understated beauty that
does not shout for attention.
The sustainability icon in this topic marks places that demonstrate a commitment to sus-
tainability. Travellers seeking other sustainable tourism operators should look for operat-
ors accredited with Qualmark Green (
www.qualmark.co.nz
) or listed at Organic Explorer
