Planning a trip to New Zealand and eager to discover the local fauna? A land of birds and kingdom of cetaceans, the home of the Kiwis promises wonderful encounters for all animal lovers. But what are the emblematic animals to see during a trip to New Zealand? Follow the guide...

In summary:

Land Mammals to See in New Zealand

Rare and Non-Endemic Mammals

Surprisingly, land animals don't feature prominently in New Zealand's wildlife kingdom.

Indeed, aside from two species of bat (the long-tailed bat and the lesser short-tailed bat), no terrestrial mammal is endemic to the country. Most of the mammals encountered on land were imported to the archipelago throughout history. This is the case with wild boars and feral pigs, deer, rats, weasels, stoats and other carnivores that all arrived with Māori and European settlers.

Among the animals imported to New Zealand, one became as emblematic as it is controversial:

The Possum (Ringtail Possum)

With its adorable face, it's hard to believe it's one of the country's main enemies. The possum (or ringtail possum) is a species of small arboreal marsupials native to Australia. Equipped with magnificent fur and a bushy prehensile tail, it was introduced to New Zealand in the nineteenth century to develop the fur trade.

The problem? The possum (not to be confused with the opossum found in North and South America) rapidly proliferated, and having no natural predators except humans, it became a pest to be eliminated. Why? Because:

• it feeds on leaves and fruit, preventing the growth of indigenous trees,

• it transmits bovine tuberculosis,

• it devours numerous eggs and chicks from endemic species such as the kea, kākāpō and kiwi,

• it constitutes a formidable competitor for food and habitat of local species.

As you can see, the possum has become a species to be eliminated because it greatly disrupts different ecosystems. In response, authorities hunt it down and invest in intensive control programs: trapping, poisoned baits, culling... The long-term goal is even to eradicate it completely by 2050 (the "Predator Free 2050" programme).

Emblematic Birds to See in New Zealand

Long before humans set foot in New Zealand, birds reigned supreme throughout the country. Although many species are threatened today, birds perfectly represent the richness of local fauna.

The Kiwi, the National Icon

Endemic to New Zealand, the kiwi is considered the national icon, to such an extent that locals prefer to call themselves "kiwis" rather than "New Zealanders". About the size of a hen, the kiwi is characterised by small eyes and a long beak with nostrils at the tip. Its wings, reduced to stumps, prevent it from flying, making it an easy prey for introduced predators. Nevertheless, it moves by trotting and can be very fast when threatened.

Unfortunately, it's an endangered species that is difficult to observe. In addition to becoming increasingly rare, the kiwi is a shy animal that lives mainly at night. To attempt to spot it in its natural habitat, it is recommended to take a guided tour with a local guide.

The Wéka

The wéka (or Weka rail) is a land bird endemic to New Zealand. It is frequently confused with the kiwi due to their similar appearance. The size of a chicken, it has a squat body with beige-brown plumage streaked with black and a distinctive long beak. Like the kiwi, it cannot fly, but is an excellent swimmer and, unlike the latter, is a daytime bird and very curious.

Unlike the kiwi, the wéka is easily observable. It's a bold bird that doesn't hesitate to approach campers and walkers. It even sometimes follows them, hoping to snatch a piece of their sandwich.

The Kākāpō

Also called the owl parrot, the kākāpō is a nocturnal species of parrot endemic to New Zealand. Reaching a size of 60 cm and a weight of 4 kg, it's the heaviest parrot in the world. It also has the distinction of being the world's only non-flying parrot and one of the birds with the longest life expectancy (around 90 years). Apart from its large size, the kākāpō is easily recognised by its yellow-green marbled plumage.

Sadly, it's almost impossible to see a kākāpō in the wild. Indeed, it's a critically endangered species. It nearly disappeared due to the introduction of predators such as cats and rats.

The Kéa (or New Zealand Alpine Parrot)

Here's another parrot species with unusual attributes. Indeed, the kéa is the world's only alpine parrot. Endemic to the South Island of New Zealand (found nowhere else), this olive-green parrot with red on the underside of its wings owes its name to its powerful cry: "keee-aa".

Capable of solving puzzles and using tools, it is considered one of the most intelligent birds in the world. It is also known for its playful and thieving temperament: it's often seen ripping rubber seals from cars and opening backpacks to steal shiny objects.

The Tūī

Also known as the Tui honeyeater and Tui curly-frilled, the Tūī is a species of passerine endemic to New Zealand. Measuring about 30 cm long, it has iridescent blue-green plumage with brown-black spots on the wings and two tufts of white feathers beneath the neck.

It's one of New Zealand's emblematic birds because of its song. Indeed, it's capable of imitating many sounds: as well as the songs of other birds, telephone ringtones or even the human voice! If you hear a robotic or grating cry similar to that of the famous Star Wars robot R2D2, there's a good chance it's him!

The Pūkeko

Pūkeko is the New Zealand name for the purple swamphen. It's a common bird and one of the few indigenous birds that has managed to adapt to environmental changes. Nicknamed the "blue pheasants" or "marsh hens", they live in the marshes and wetlands of the country. They're found as much in pastures and farmland as in wetlands or along marshy roadsides.

They're easily recognizable by their brilliant blue-violet plumage on the breast and belly and black on the back, as well as their bright red beak. It holds an important place in Māori culture, where it carries many symbolic meanings.

The Kererū (Wood Pigeon)

The kererū (Māori name for the New Zealand pigeon or wood pigeon in English) is a species of pigeon endemic to New Zealand. It's the country's only pigeon species and one of the world's largest pigeons. It's characterised by iridescent blue-green plumage, a brilliant white breast and a red beak.

Unlike our urban pigeons, the kererū is a forest bird in New Zealand. It's easily spotted by its colours, but also by the distinctive sound of its wing beats.

The Royal Albatross

With a wingspan that can reach up to 3.20m, the royal albatross is one of the world's largest seabirds. It's marked by white plumage with black wings that tend to lighten with age until they become completely white except for the tips. It has a pale pink beak, long and thick with a hooked tip.

It's a fascinating bird to watch, especially in flight. They're excellent gliders, capable of covering thousands of kilometres without flapping their wings. They're known for being very faithful since they're monogamous: they form a couple for life after years of courtship displays and always return to the same place for nesting.

Penguins

Several species of penguins can be observed in New Zealand, here are the main ones:

The Yellow-Eyed Penguin (or Antipodean Penguin)

This highly threatened endemic species is one of the rare solitary penguins and one of the rarest penguins in the world. It's recognised by its dark black-grey plumage on the back, white belly and pale yellow head with characteristic yellow eyes. It's a very discreet penguin that nests in forests and prefers to be reclusive rather than in large colonies. It's most easily observed in the late afternoon during the nesting period (between October and March).

The Little Penguin (or Little Blue Penguin)

Characterised by different shades of indigo blue on the back, head and wings and a white belly, the little penguin (also called the little blue penguin) is the smallest penguin species in the world. This nocturnal species lives in burrows, leaves land for sea before sunset and only returns when it's dark to avoid predators.

The Fiordland Crested Penguin

The Fiordland crested penguin is a rare species endemic to south-west of the South Island of New Zealand. Of medium size, it has black and white plumage. Belonging to the genus Eudyptes, it's distinguished by a pale yellow crested arch above the eyes. Very discreet, it nests in damp forests or rocky caves near waterfalls.

The Snares Crested Penguin

Like the previous species, the Snares crested penguin is easily recognised by its characteristic yellow crest. Its head, cheeks, throat and back are black while its belly is white. A patch of pink skin (without feathers) at the base of the beak distinguishes them from Fiordland crested penguins. It's an endemic species of the Snares archipelago (south of the South Island): found nowhere else.

The Erect-Crested Penguin

The erect-crested penguin also belongs to the genus Eudyptes. But unlike other species, it's the only one whose crest is completely upright and doesn't fall over the eyes (hence its name). It has a black head, upper throat and cheeks and a back ranging from bluish-black to black. It's found on the subantarctic islands linked to New Zealand (Campbell Island, Antipodes Island, Auckland Island).

Essential Marine Animals to See in New Zealand

Lovers of marine creatures will be delighted during a trip to New Zealand. Indeed, the country is located in the world's fourth-largest marine territory. Known as a world leader in the protection of marine mammals, it is estimated that nearly half of the world's whale species live in New Zealand waters.

Cetaceans (Whales, Dolphins...)

The Sperm Whale

Reaching up to 18 m in length, the sperm whale is characterised by a massive head that represents nearly a third of the animal's body. Its dark grey or black body with some spots on the belly has no dorsal fin, but a series of ridges on the rear third of the back. It's known for having the largest brain in the animal kingdom and for being capable of diving to depths of 3000 m.

The sperm whale is a resident species in New Zealand: it can be seen year-round, though sightings are more frequent between September and April.

The Bryde's Whale

Measuring up to 15 m in length, Bryde's whale is distinguished from other species by the presence of three longitudinal ridges on the top of the rostrum. It's blue-grey in colour on the back and yellowish-white on the belly.

Bryde's whale is one of the few whale species present year-round in New Zealand, particularly in the subtropical waters of the North Island. Rapid and relatively discreet, it's frequently encountered, but sightings are more numerous between November and April.

The Humpback Whale

The humpback whale is one of the most spectacular cetacean species to observe in New Zealand. Offering an extraordinary spectacle to animal lovers (complex melodious songs, spectacular jumps, flipper slaps, tail flukes...), it's one of the most sought-after cetaceans for whale watching. It has long pectoral fins with bumps, a dark or dark grey body with a white belly and a large fan-shaped tail.

New Zealand waters are part of the humpback whale's migration route. These whales migrate northward between June and August and migrate towards Antarctica between September and November.

The Southern Right Whale

The Southern right whale is a rare and emblematic species of the southern hemisphere. It was long hunted, but is making a gradual comeback in New Zealand waters. Reaching 18 m in length, it's recognised by its very large head with horn-like callosities (white or greyish rough patches on the head).

Unlike sperm whales or humpback whales, right whales are often visible from shore without a boat trip. They're very calm and generally stay near the surface.

You can see them during the austral winter (between June and September), when females come to give birth near the coast and stay for several weeks to raise their calves.

The Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcas (or killer whales) are among the most impressive marine predators. They're at the top of the food chain: they're capable of attacking dolphins, seals and even whales! Measuring up to 9 m in length, they're the largest members of the Delphinidae family, the same family as dolphins.

In New Zealand, they're present year-round, but their observation remains unpredictable because they cover vast distances.

Hector's Dolphin (Hector's Dolphin)

Hector's dolphin is an endemic species of New Zealand. It's the smallest dolphin in the world (measuring between 1.2 and 1.5 m in length). Recognizable by its stocky silhouette in light grey with a white belly, it has a rounded "Mickey Mouse ear"-shaped dorsal fin. It's one of the most threatened cetacean species worldwide.

This coastal species is observable year-round. It evolves often in less than 100 m depth and shows very active and curious behaviour. It's frequently seen, in small groups of 2 to 8 individuals, performing acrobatics beside boats.

The Dusky Dolphin (Dusky Dolphin)

The dusky dolphin, also called the dusky dolphin, is one of the most acrobatic and sociable dolphins in the world. It has a dark to black back, light grey to white flanks and a white belly, often with curved lateral bands. Its colouring gives the impression that its skin is marbled.

In New Zealand, it's a very widespread species year-round, especially in the cold waters of the South Island, where it's relatively easy to observe. Very playful, it's seen performing leaps and rolls and sometimes even surfing on waves and boat wakes. It lives in very large groups of up to a hundred individuals.

Note that bottlenose dolphins and short-beaked common dolphins are also regularly found in New Zealand waters.

Pinnipeds (Seals, Sea Lions...)

In addition to its cetaceans, New Zealand waters are known to harbour numerous species of pinnipeds, that is, semi-aquatic marine mammals with flipper-like paws.

The New Zealand Fur Seal

The New Zealand fur seal, also called kekeno in Māori, is one of the country's most emblematic marine mammals. This species is characterised by brown to dark grey fur, with a dense and waterproof undercoat, a head with a pointed snout and white whiskers, and long and powerful flippers.

Once hunted almost to extinction, this species has made a remarkable comeback and is now widely observable on the rocky coasts of the South Island and some parts of the North Island. Very agile, the New Zealand fur seal is capable of climbing steep rocks.

The Southern Elephant Seal

The Southern elephant seal (or Southern elephant seal) is the world's largest pinniped (up to 6 m long and weighing 4 tonnes in males) and a spectacular, though infrequent, visitor to New Zealand's coasts. It takes its name because of the elongated trunk-like snout that males possess.

This species, usually associated with subantarctic islands, has no permanent colonies on New Zealand's main islands, but solitary individuals are sometimes observed, particularly on southern beaches.

The Leopard Seal

This impressive pinniped is recognizable by its reptilian head, powerful jaw and spotted fur, to which it owes its name. The leopard seal is known to be extremely powerful and ferocious. Unlike other species, the female is much more imposing than males and can reach up to 3.80 m and weigh up to 500 kg.

It's one of the most fearsome marine predators of the Antarctic. It's present in New Zealand seasonally (during the austral winter, from June to September), mainly on the south coast of the South Island and on subantarctic islands.

And Sharks?

Are there sharks in New Zealand? If you're asking yourself this question, know that the country's waters are home to many shark species, including:

• The basking shark,

• The great white shark,

• The shortfin mako,

• The smooth dogfish (or porbeagle or mackerel shark),

• The lemon shark,

• The reef sharks (blacktip or whitetip...)

Need help organising your trip to New Zealand and meeting the country's emblematic animals? Let's talk about it!

In the meantime, find inspiration with our three circuits focused on New Zealand's wildlife and flora:

• South Island Splendours Circuit

• 18-Day New Zealand Adventure Journey

• New Zealand Freedom Circuit – The Essentials of Both Islands in 18 Days