After splitting from other continents 80 million years ago, evolution on land took an eccentric course, leading to plants, animals and ecosystems so distinctive that New Zealand has been described as the closest scientists will come to studying life on another planet. From then, until the arrival of humans, it had the longest period of isolation of any non-polar landmass on earth.

The main reason is that, unlike other continents, New Zealand was almost mammal-free – the only native mammals were two species of bat, and marine mammals. For 65 million years, birds dominated the land. Some evolved into unique new forms – the world’s largest eagle, a flightless nocturnal parrot, the kiwi with nostrils at the end of its long beak, and the giant moa, taller than any other bird. Flightless birds and giant insects (such as the giant weta) filled roles small mammals filled elsewhere – foraging on the ground, living in burrows and hollows.

Around our shores, nearly 100 native species such as the threatened bluefinned butterfish live in rockpools, 60 per cent of them found only in New Zealand and nowhere else.

Mammals began to arrive in numbers about 1000 years ago in the form of human settlers who bought with them mammal predators such as rats and possums. Since then, New Zealand’s biodiversity has radically changed on land, in our rivers, lakes and streams, and in the sea.

What is New Zealand’s biodiversity? Now, that’s a big question.
Why do we value it ?  That’s a complex answer…
What is its current state, including threats? Could be better.