New Zealand

Below you can find a complete list of New Zealand animals. We currently track 162 animals in New Zealand and are adding more every day!

New Zealand is a country in Oceania made up of two large islands and several smaller islands. New Zealand has a widely diverse topography and a temperate maritime climate. Due to millions of years of isolation in New Zealand’s past, there are many unique types of flora and fauna native to the islands. Along with unique native species, New Zealand is also home to many exotic types of animal species. Originally, New Zealand had very few predator mammals, leading to the increased evolution of flightless birds.

The Official National (state) Animal of New Zealand

The national animal is the native kiwi bird. This loveable, flightless bird is so strongly associated with New Zealand that the term “kiwi” is often used to refer to the native people of the country. Kiwis are considered vulnerable in terms of conservation due to the invasion of non-native predator mammals as well as deforestation.

Where To Find The Top Wild Animals

The top animal in New Zealand is undoubtedly the national kiwi bird. Kiwis are very shy and elusive and are mainly found in forests during nocturnal hours. Another top animal is the lesser short-tailed bat. This bat is the only native land mammal in the country. It’s considered endangered and difficult to see outside of zoos. Many of New Zealand’s common animals can be found in the waters surrounding the country. These include the following:

Hector’s dolphin
fur seal
Maui dolphin
Hooker’s sea lion
Little blue penguins
Yellow-eyed penguins

Native Birds

New Zealand holds some of the most unique environments and species in the world, secluded as an island country. Birds of the country are especially of note. In fact, New Zealand is so fond of their avifauna that an annual Bird of the Year contest is held every October and is widely debated on platforms such as Twitter. Many parts of the island are home to special birds, some of these being choice spots to bird watch:

Northland – Home of Project Island Song, a sanctuary using native tree planting, biosecurity measures, and species protection to bring native birdsong back to the country. PIS has successfully reintroduced native species to seven of the main islands. Kiwis are a popular bird to spot here at night.
Auckland – Tiritiri Mātangi is a predator-free, forested island accessible by an hour-long ferry ride from Auckland. Around 300,000 native trees shelter many native wildlife species, including several unique bird species. The rare tākahē may be spotted by lucky visitors. North of Auckland lies the sanctuary of Tāwharanui Regional Park. More than 90 species of endangered bird including the North Island robin, tākahē, pāteke (brown teal), kākāriki, tīeke, korimako (bellbird), and North Island brown kiwi.
Waikato – Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari lies in this district, a fenced-in ecological “island” teeming with native flora and fauna, including impressive bird watching.

Named are only a few of the many places in the islands to visit for excellent birding. New Zealanders are highly protective of their distinctive avifauna, fiercely advocating for preservation of habitat and the birds’ well-being.

Native Fish

Hiking, cricket, and photography are all popular hobbies in New Zealand, along with fishing. Surrounded by almost 10,000 miles of coastline, the country is a hotspot for sea fishing. Lakes and rivers also prove draw in freshwater fisherman, especially those looking for trout.

Charters from the Bay of Plenty and Northland are available from December to June, big game fishing season. Commonly sought species include:

Marlin
Billfish
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Kingfish
Snapper (a prize for fishermen here)

Ocean fishing is not the only type of fishing in the country, however. Fly fishing and other freshwater fishing is available in the lakes and rivers of New Zealand. Trout is a particularly popular catch, especially prevalent in Lake Taupo. Here are some common freshwater finds:

Rainbow trout
Brown trout
Salmon

Native Snakes

Quite the paradise for avid nature-lovers, New Zealand’s many unique species actually exclude snakes. There are no land snakes present in the island country, giving visitors one less creepy crawly to worry about. Occasionally yellow-bellied sea snakes and sea kraits are spotted in the surrounding oceans but these are rare sightings.

The Most Dangerous Animals

There are over 70,000 species of flora and fauna. Some of these species are dangerous to humans. Sharks are probably the most dangerous animal in New Zealand as several species roam the waters, including the great white and oceanic whitetip. New Zealand also has a few venomous spider species, including the Katipo spider, redback spider, and white-tailed spider. The latter spider species is also the most common, which makes it more likely that it will encounter and bite humans. Fortunately, it’s not as venomous as the other two spiders.

Endangered Animals

There are a number of endangered animals in New Zealand. The fairy tern has a remaining population of between 30 and 40 animals. It’s threatened by a loss of habitat as well as predation by cats and dogs. The flightless kakapo parrot has only 124 animals left in the wild and is endangered for the same reasons as the fairy tern. The Maui dolphin is a subspecies of Hector’s dolphin, but it’s very endangered with only about 55 animals left. Gill nets and trawling nets are mainly to blame for the dolphin’s destruction. Other endangered animals include the following:

Sea lion
Southern elephant seal
Bryde’s whale
Greater short-tailed bat
Black stilt
White heron

Native and Unique Wildlife To New Zealand

As a relatively isolated area, this country is home to many types of flora and fauna that are completely unique to it. The kiwi is one of these unique natives. Another unique native animal is the kea. The kea is the only alpine species of parrot in the world. They can be found in Arthur’s Pass National Park and Fiordland National Park. They’re known for eating nearly anything, including rubber parts on cars. Another unique animal native to New Zealand is the chevron skink. Its claim to fame is that it’s the island’s longest lizard.

Extinct New Zealand Wildlife

Many animals have become extinct in New Zealand over the years. One is the Haast’s eagle, which died out after humans hunted the moa (the eagle’s main prey) to extinction. This eagle was the largest known eagle to have once existed, and it weighed about 33 pounds. Other extinct New Zealand animals include the following:

South Island goose
Greater short-tailed bat
Grayling
Kawekaweau gecko

Zoos in New Zealand

Looking at New Zealand wildlife in their natural habitat is always ideal, however, several particular zoos of the country are home to exceptional exhibits and opportunities to see native and exotic species and learn more about the preservation of these important species.

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve – Dedicated to maintaining animals’ natural environments, there is no glass for viewing animals. Visitors are able to get up close and personal to kiwi, kea, and tuatara.
Auckland Zoo – One of the main attractions of the city, this zoo is home to 135 species of wildlife, including African mammals, reptiles, and avifauna. The zoo has a veterinary hospital for treatment, recovery, and rehabilitation of injured wildlife.
Orana Wildlife Park – Known around the world for its wildlife breeding program for native and exotic species, Orana sits on 197 acres of land and houses over 400 animals. The aviaries and herpetarium are specifically popular.

New Zealand puts strong effort into protecting its native species and in conservation in general. The country’s zoos reflect this goal, contributing to rehabilitation, repopulation, and reintroduction of wild animals.

New Zealand Animals

New Zealand Animals List

New Zealand FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What kind of animals live in New Zealand?

The most populous animals in New Zealand are birds, marine life and reptiles. New Zealand did not naturally have land predators until humans moved in.

What is the main animal in New Zealand?

The kiwi is the most well-known animal in New Zealand.

Does New Zealand have dangerous animals?

Unlike Australia, New Zealand has very few dangerous animals.