SECTIONS

biological taonga

The MixJune 26

Sweet-toothed singing cousins

There’s a reason our honeyeaters sing from a similar song sheet.
Sweet-toothed singing cousins
Sweet-toothed singing cousins
The MixMarch 6

Splashing out of the gene pool

Whenever we have out of town visitors staying, I take them on an expedition to the Aramoana mole, at the mouth of Otago Harbour. There, without fail, we can see New Zealand fur-seals on the rocks basking in the sun. And, with luck, there will also be a New Zealand sea-lion hauled up on the sand of Spit Beach. A couple of times I have even seen a leopard seal there.
Splashing out of the gene pool
Splashing out of the gene pool
The MixOctober 3

Tide turns on chiton debate

To care for our living treasures, we first need to know what they are.
Tide turns on chiton debate
Tide turns on chiton debate
The MixJune 29

The journey of our branching trees

Our trees have some intriguing family histories.
The journey of our branching trees
The journey of our branching trees
The MixOctober 19

A remarkable bird by any name

The tītī is a bird with many cousins, the science tells us.
A remarkable bird by any name
A remarkable bird by any name
The MixJune 21

Endangered skinks need our protection

We are a land of more lizards than you might think.
Endangered skinks need our protection
Endangered skinks need our protection
Life & StyleMarch 10

Poetry in motion

In 1713 Jonathan Swift, the satirist remembered best as the author of Gulliver’s Travels, had a problem.
Poetry in motion
Poetry in motion
Life & StyleFebruary 23

Sibling species a cryptic plot twist

Hamish G. Spencer takes a look at sibling species.
Sibling species a cryptic plot twist
Sibling species a cryptic plot twist
Life & StyleOctober 15

Mohua part of their own flock

It turns out that mohua are even more special than previously suspected.
Mohua part of their own flock
Mohua part of their own flock
The MixAugust 18

Native mistletoe a rare delight

It is the best time of year to spot some of our special plants.
Native mistletoe a rare delight
Native mistletoe a rare delight
Life & StyleMay 21

Where nothing is as it seems

They are are not worms but they are remarkable.
Where nothing is as it seems
Where nothing is as it seems
The MixMarch 5

Unique, diverse heralds of summer

It’s a diverse chorus of voices that makes our  sound of summer.
Unique, diverse heralds of summer
Unique, diverse heralds of summer
The MixDecember 11

Blood-sucking fish in its own league

The more you look at them, the clearer it becomes that lampreys are a bit weird.
Blood-sucking fish in its own league
Blood-sucking fish in its own league
The MixApril 24

Fantastic beasts and where to find them

The uniqueness of a neighbourhood treasure is a story worth repeating.
Fantastic beasts and where to find them
Fantastic beasts and where to find them
The MixJanuary 23

Climate presents challenge for tuatara

Hamish Spencer shares his experience of helping to re-establish a population of tuatara at Te Kuri o Paoa, Young Nick’s Head, south of Gisborne.
Climate presents challenge for tuatara
Climate presents challenge for tuatara
The MixSeptember 5

As special as a moa

I often wished as a child that I could see a living moa just once. They stimulated in my boyish imagination visions of an ancient world that had long disappeared, writes Hamish Spencer.
As special as a moa
As special as a moa
The MixMay 9

Recognising what remains to be known

There are treasures still to be found. We should treasure them now.
Recognising what remains to be known
Recognising what remains to be known
The MixDecember 13

A ringing endorsement for clean streams

On a family holiday in Northland some years ago, we all went off after dark in search of kiwi.
A ringing endorsement for clean streams
A ringing endorsement for clean streams
The MixJuly 26

Shags for sure

Some often overlooked birds are a wonderful example of our region’s diversity,  writes Hamish Spencer.
Shags for sure
Shags for sure