What is measured and why?
Changes in distribution of the seven native species illustrate the changing extent of native habitats over time. The estimated pre-human distribution, 1970s distribution and current distribution (2007 for all species, except mōhua which is 2005) are reported.
Seven native species used to illustrate changes in New Zealand’s native biodiversity
| Name | What is it? | Why is it used? |
|---|---|---|
Lesser short-tailed bat/pekapeka (Mystacina tuberculata) |
Endemic bat. Bats are our only native terrestrial mammal |
Shows the general health and structure of forested ecosystems in many parts of New Zealand. |
Kiwi (Apteryx spp.) (five species) |
Endemic, flightless bird |
A good indicator of the abundance of key mammalian predators in a range of forest types in many parts of the country. |
Kākā (Nestor meridionalis) |
Endemic forest parrot |
A good indicator of possum and stoat abundance in a range of forest types in the North and South Islands. |
Kōkako (Callaeas cinerea) |
Endemic New Zealand wattlebird |
An indicator of rat and possum densities in North Island forests. The kōkako, because of its sensitivity, only exists in managed sites. |
Mōhua/yellowhead (Mohoua ochrocephala) |
Endemic insectivorous forest bird |
A very sensitive indicator of stoat and rat densities in South Island beech forest. |
Wrybill/ngutu pare (Anarhynchus frontalis) |
Small, endemic shorebird that is highly specialised for breeding in braided rivers |
These birds depend on South Island braided rivers for their breeding habitat and provide a good indicator of various threats degrading this ecosystem, such as pest predators and direct human impact, including water extraction and four-wheel-drive activities. |
Dactylanthus/woodrose/pua o te rēinga (Dactylanthus taylorii) |
Endemic, parasitic flowering plant |
Indicates aspects of forest health in parts of the North Island, including densities of introduced browsers, presence of native pollinators, seed dispersers, and host trees. |
Source: Ministry for the Environment.
Did you know?
- There are an estimated 80,000 native species in New Zealand. Almost 55,000 of these have been identified and about 30,000 have been scientifically described, named and classified.
- In 2007, almost 2500 known land-based and freshwater species of animals, plants and fungi are classified as threatened in New Zealand.
- All of the seven indicator species show a marked decrease in their range since human settlement, due to loss of habitats and the impacts of introduced pests.
- More than 25,000 plant species, 54 mammal species and about 2000 invertebrate species have been introduced to New Zealand since it was settled.
This information has come from the latest national state of the environment report Environment New Zealand 2007.
Return to the distribution of selected native species page.
Last updated: December 2008
