Wildlife

Photo by Jeremy Painting

Ark in the Park was once home to a diverse range of species, including kiwi, native falcons, long-tailed cuckoos and short-tailed bats (pekapeka).

Today, thanks to restoration efforts undertaken by volunteers, this ancient kauri forest is coming back to life, once again supporting healthy populations of native wildlife and plants.

Birds

Bellbird/
korimako

Photo by J Graham

Black shag/
kawau

Photo by Dougal Townsend

Fantail/
pīwakawaka

Photo by Jeremy Painting

Fernbird/
mātātā

Photo by Grant Capill

Grey warbler/
riroriro

Photo by Grant Capill

Harrier/
kāhu

Photo by Grant Capill

Stichbird/
Hihi

Photo by Laurence Bechet

Kākā

Photo by Bruce Smith

Wood pigeon/
kererū

Photo by Mark Darin

Kingfisher/
kōtare

Photo by Grant Capill

Kōkako

Photo by Grant Capill

Little shag/
kawaupaka

Photo by Shaun Lee

Long-tailed cuckoo/
koekoeā

Photo by Laurence Bechet

Morepork/
ruru
Photo by Grant Capill

Dabchick/
weweia

Photo by Shaun Lee

Pipit/
pīhoihoi

Photo by Shaun Lee

North Island robin/
toutouwai
Photo by Jacqui Geux

North Island tomtit/
miromiro

Photo by Jacqui Geux

Paradise shelduck/
pūtangitangi

Photo by Grant Capill

Pūkeko
Photo by Murray Dawson

Red-crowned kākāriki

Photo by John Barkla

Shining cuckoo/
pīpiwharaurora

Photo by Jacqui Geux

Silvereye/
tauhou
Photo by Grant Capill

Tūī

Photo by Jacqui Geux

Whitehead/
pōpokatea

Photo by Andrew Kirkby

Plants

From ancient kauri trees to lush ferns and delicate orchids — Ark in the Park’s rich ecosystem supports hundreds of different plant species.

A botanical survey of the species present at Ark in the Park was done in 2015 by volunteers. Download a summary of research methods (PDF) or see below for the full spreadsheet of species recorded.

Heketara

Olearia rani

Photo by Jacqui Geux

Pigeonwood/
porokaiwhiri

Hedycarya arborea

Photo by Jacqui Geux

Hangehange

Geniostoma ligustrifolium

Photo by Jacqui Geux

Kanono

Coprosma grandifolia

Photo by Jacqui Geux

Nīkau

Rhopalostylis sapida

Photo by Jacqui Geux

Horoeka

Pseudopanax crassifolius

Photo by Penelope Gillette

Ark in the Park on iNaturalist NZ

Over the years, visitors and volunteers have contributed thousands of observations of wildlife and plants at Ark in the Park using iNaturalist NZ.

Latest observations