Fauna

The Millennium Native Forest Reserve - Masterton
Conceived 1994 - Opened to the Public 12 April 2008

***** Native Wildlife *****

The reserve is well populated with wild life. Much of it is native to New Zealand but we have no way of preventing introduced species entering and breeding within the Reserve.
Below is a list of the wild life that have been observed.
Click on the "Common Name" highlighted in red to see the illustration.

Endemic — found only in New Zealand.
Native — birds that are naturally found in the country or are self-introduced.
Introduced — brought here by humans.

Illustrations from New Zealand Birds and Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research

Common Name

Maori Name

Other Information

Birds . .

Australasian Harrier Kahu Native to New Zealand.

Pukeko Pukeko Also known as the Swamphen. Native to NZ.

New Zealand Pigeon Kereru Endemic to New Zealand. Most fruits swallowed whole and seeds voided undamaged. Many NZ
trees rely almost entirely on the kereru for distribution of their seeds.

Rock Pigeon . Introduced by early settlers.

Shining Cuckoo Pipwharauroa A migrant bird that winters in the Bismarck Achipelago and Solomon Islands. Returns to New Zealand in September.

House Sparrow Tiu Introduced to New Zealand in 1867 to control insect pests.

Hedge Sparrow . Introduced to New Zealand 1867.

Blackbird Manu Pango Introduced to Australia and New Zealand in the 1860s.

Song Thrush Tiutiu Introduced to New Zealand in the 1860s.

Grey Warbler Riroriro Endemic to New Zealand. According to Maori folklore its song is a sign of spring.

Fantail Piwakawaka Native to New Zealand but common right across Australasia.

Tomtit Miromiro Endemic to New Zealand.

Silvereye Tauhou Self introduced to New Zealand in the 1850s. Found throughout Australasia.

Bellbird Korimako Endemic to New Zealand. Only found in New Zealand. Honey eater.

Tui Tui Endemic to New Zealand. Only found in New Zealand. Honey eater. Also known as the parson bird.

Goldfinch . Introduced to New Zealand in the 1870s.

Greenfinch . Brought to New Zealand by early settlers in the 1860s.

Chaffinch Pahirini Introduced to New Zealand in the 1860s.

Starling Taringi Introduced to New Zealand in the 1860s.

Australian Magpie Makipai Introduced from Australia in 1850 - 1880.

Black-backed Gull . .

Yellowhammer . Introduced to New Zealand in 1862. Became a pest and a bounty was placed on its eggs.

Kingfisher Kotare Native to New Zealand, Australia, Polynesia, Melanesia and Indonesia

Mute swan Largest waterbird in New Zealand introduced from Britain in the 1860s.

Swallow Warou Also known as the Welcome swallow. An Australian bird that colonised New Zealand in the 1950s.

Plover Also known as the spur-winged plover or masked lapwing. First recorded in Invergargill in 1932
it has now spread to all of New Zealand and is so abundant that there is now talk of culling them.

Skylark Hioi / Ahioi Introduced to New Zealand from Britain in the 1860s

New Zealand Scaup Papango Endemic to New Zealand. Also known as the widgeon or black teal.

Canada Goose Introduced to New Zealand from the United States as a gift from US President Theodore Roosevelt
in 1905.

Whitehead Popokatea Endemic to New Zealand. Entirely confined to the North Island. The whitehead's nest is a fovourite
place for the Longtailed cuckoo to lay its eggs.

Mammals . .

Brushtailed Possum Paihau/Pohima Introduced in 1858 to establish a fur industry. The brushtail possum has become even more numerous in
New Zealand than in its native Australia.

Rabbit Rapeti First released in New Zealand in 1777 as a source of fur and meat.

Norway Rat Pouhawaiki Arrived with the early explorers and settlers.

Stoat Toata Introduced in the 1870s to control rabbits and were protected until 1936.

Insects . .

Monarch Butterfly Kahuku Self-introduced to New Zealand. First seen in New Zealand in 1840. Adults are nectar feeders.
Caterpillars eat only the leaves of the milkweed group especially swan plants.

Cabbage white butterfly Pepe ma Introduced to New Zealand probably on container ships. First seen in Napier in 1930.

Bumblebee Pi Rorohu Introduced near Christchurch in 1885 to improve pollination of clover. Now common throughout
New Zealand.

Honey Bee Pi honi Introduced to New Zealand around 1839 when hives from England were landed at Hockianga.
They are now abundant throughout New Zealand.

Native Bees Ngaro Huruhuru New Zealand has no native bumblebees or honey bees. There are 40 species of native bee.
There are no queens or worker bees, just male and female. They carry the pollen internally,
not in sacks on the hind legs.

Ground Beetles Kurikuri Native, introduced and endemic to New Zealand. 26,000 species world wide including several
hundred species in New Zealand.

Damselflies Kihitara There are six species which are endemic to New Zealand.

Dragonflies Kapkapowai Native to New Zealand but unlike the rest of the world where the nymphs live mainly underwater,
they have adapted to bogs, live in burrows and hunt ground-dwelling animals such as beetles,
spiders and cockroaches at night.

Stick Insects Whe Kakariki Native and endemic to New Zealand. Female lays up to 1000 eggs per season which may
remain dormant for years before hatching.

Cicarda Kihikihi Endemic to New Zealand. The furher north you travel the louder they become.

Ladybirds Mumutawa Native, introduced and endemic to New Zealand. Mostly red with black spots. There is one which is
common to New Zealand that is black with yellow spots.

Huhu Beetle Huhu (larva) Largest of New Zealand's endemic beetles. Their larvae are a traditional Maori delicacy,
lightly fried in oil with a sprinkling of salt.

Aquatic . .

Southern Bell Frog Poraka.
Native to Australia and introduced to New Zealand in 1867.

Long-finned Eel Kaiwharuwharu Females can grow up to 2m and weigh nearly 20kg. They spawn in the Tonga region and the
young drift back to New Zealand on the ocean currents.

Brown Mudfish Hauhau Endemic to New Zealand and mainly found in southern North Island and the West Coast of the South Island . In summer when many ponds dry up they bury themselves in the mud and hibernate until the autumn.

Backswimmers Hoe Tuara Endemic to New Zealand. They swim upside down, usually near the surface.

Water Boatmen Hoehoe Tuara Endemic to New Zealand. Prefer clear quiet waters such as ponds. Less easily seen as they
feed on or near the bottom.

The above information was mainly found in the "Collins Field Guide to New Zealand Wildlife" by Terence Lindsey and Rod Morris.
Published by Harper Collins Publishers (New Zealand) Ltd., PO Box 1, Auckland, New Zealand.
An excellent reference book for all interested in New Zealand Wildlife.

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Common Name	Maori Name	Other Information
Birds	.	.
Australasian Harrier	Kahu	Native to New Zealand.
Pukeko	Pukeko	Also known as the Swamphen. Native to NZ.
New Zealand Pigeon	Kereru	Endemic to New Zealand. Most fruits swallowed whole and seeds voided undamaged. Many NZ trees rely almost entirely on the kereru for distribution of their seeds.
Rock Pigeon	.	Introduced by early settlers.
Shining Cuckoo	Pipwharauroa	A migrant bird that winters in the Bismarck Achipelago and Solomon Islands. Returns to New Zealand in September.
House Sparrow	Tiu	Introduced to New Zealand in 1867 to control insect pests.
Hedge Sparrow	.	Introduced to New Zealand 1867.
Blackbird	Manu Pango	Introduced to Australia and New Zealand in the 1860s.
Song Thrush	Tiutiu	Introduced to New Zealand in the 1860s.
Grey Warbler	Riroriro	Endemic to New Zealand. According to Maori folklore its song is a sign of spring.
Fantail	Piwakawaka	Native to New Zealand but common right across Australasia.
Tomtit	Miromiro	Endemic to New Zealand.
Silvereye	Tauhou	Self introduced to New Zealand in the 1850s. Found throughout Australasia.
Bellbird	Korimako	Endemic to New Zealand. Only found in New Zealand. Honey eater.
Tui	Tui	Endemic to New Zealand. Only found in New Zealand. Honey eater. Also known as the parson bird.
Goldfinch	.	Introduced to New Zealand in the 1870s.
Greenfinch	.	Brought to New Zealand by early settlers in the 1860s.
Chaffinch	Pahirini	Introduced to New Zealand in the 1860s.
Starling	Taringi	Introduced to New Zealand in the 1860s.
Australian Magpie	Makipai	Introduced from Australia in 1850 - 1880.
Black-backed Gull	.	.
Yellowhammer	.	Introduced to New Zealand in 1862. Became a pest and a bounty was placed on its eggs.
Kingfisher	Kotare	Native to New Zealand, Australia, Polynesia, Melanesia and Indonesia
Mute swan		Largest waterbird in New Zealand introduced from Britain in the 1860s.
Swallow	Warou	Also known as the Welcome swallow. An Australian bird that colonised New Zealand in the 1950s.
Plover		Also known as the spur-winged plover or masked lapwing. First recorded in Invergargill in 1932 it has now spread to all of New Zealand and is so abundant that there is now talk of culling them.
Skylark	Hioi / Ahioi	Introduced to New Zealand from Britain in the 1860s
New Zealand Scaup	Papango	Endemic to New Zealand. Also known as the widgeon or black teal.
Canada Goose		Introduced to New Zealand from the United States as a gift from US President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905.
Whitehead	Popokatea	Endemic to New Zealand. Entirely confined to the North Island. The whitehead's nest is a fovourite place for the Longtailed cuckoo to lay its eggs.
Mammals	.	.
Brushtailed Possum	Paihau/Pohima	Introduced in 1858 to establish a fur industry. The brushtail possum has become even more numerous in New Zealand than in its native Australia.
Rabbit	Rapeti	First released in New Zealand in 1777 as a source of fur and meat.
Norway Rat	Pouhawaiki	Arrived with the early explorers and settlers.
Stoat	Toata	Introduced in the 1870s to control rabbits and were protected until 1936.
Insects	.	.
Monarch Butterfly	Kahuku	Self-introduced to New Zealand. First seen in New Zealand in 1840. Adults are nectar feeders. Caterpillars eat only the leaves of the milkweed group especially swan plants.
Cabbage white butterfly	Pepe ma	Introduced to New Zealand probably on container ships. First seen in Napier in 1930.
Bumblebee	Pi Rorohu	Introduced near Christchurch in 1885 to improve pollination of clover. Now common throughout New Zealand.
Honey Bee	Pi honi	Introduced to New Zealand around 1839 when hives from England were landed at Hockianga. They are now abundant throughout New Zealand.
Native Bees	Ngaro Huruhuru	New Zealand has no native bumblebees or honey bees. There are 40 species of native bee. There are no queens or worker bees, just male and female. They carry the pollen internally, not in sacks on the hind legs.
Ground Beetles	Kurikuri	Native, introduced and endemic to New Zealand. 26,000 species world wide including several hundred species in New Zealand.
Damselflies	Kihitara	There are six species which are endemic to New Zealand.
Dragonflies	Kapkapowai	Native to New Zealand but unlike the rest of the world where the nymphs live mainly underwater, they have adapted to bogs, live in burrows and hunt ground-dwelling animals such as beetles, spiders and cockroaches at night.
Stick Insects	Whe Kakariki	Native and endemic to New Zealand. Female lays up to 1000 eggs per season which may remain dormant for years before hatching.
Cicarda	Kihikihi	Endemic to New Zealand. The furher north you travel the louder they become.
Ladybirds	Mumutawa	Native, introduced and endemic to New Zealand. Mostly red with black spots. There is one which is common to New Zealand that is black with yellow spots.
Huhu Beetle	Huhu (larva)	Largest of New Zealand's endemic beetles. Their larvae are a traditional Maori delicacy, lightly fried in oil with a sprinkling of salt.
Aquatic	.	.
Southern Bell Frog	Poraka.	Native to Australia and introduced to New Zealand in 1867.
Long-finned Eel	Kaiwharuwharu	Females can grow up to 2m and weigh nearly 20kg. They spawn in the Tonga region and the young drift back to New Zealand on the ocean currents.
Brown Mudfish	Hauhau	Endemic to New Zealand and mainly found in southern North Island and the West Coast of the South Island . In summer when many ponds dry up they bury themselves in the mud and hibernate until the autumn.
Backswimmers	Hoe Tuara	Endemic to New Zealand. They swim upside down, usually near the surface.
Water Boatmen	Hoehoe Tuara	Endemic to New Zealand. Prefer clear quiet waters such as ponds. Less easily seen as they feed on or near the bottom.