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Tāwharanui Regional Park
Tāwharanui Regional Park is a regional park on the Tāwharanui Peninsula in the Auckland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located in Rodney, east of Warkworth and north of Auckland. Geography The park covers 593.8 hectares of land at the end of the peninsula, and is owned and managed by Auckland Council. The park combines a " mainland island" sanctuary for the conservation of native plants and animals with farmland and public recreation areas. The park is mostly grazed pasture with mānuka scattered throughout and patches of coastal forest. The most significant area of coastal forest is in the central eastern part of the park where kauri and rimu dominate the ridges, with pūriri, taraire, tawa and, less often, rewarewa and nīkau in the valleys. Elsewhere there are tōtara, kahikatea, pōhutukawa, cabbage trees, karaka and New Zealand flax. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rodney (local Board Area)
Rodney Local Board is one of the 21 local boards of Auckland Council, and is administered by the ward councillor representing Rodney Ward. Located in the northern part of the Auckland region, it is named after the former Rodney District which existed before its amalgamation into Auckland Council in 2010. Nine elected Local Board members sit on the board. The Rodney Local Board is charged with decision-making on local issues, activities, and services, and provide input into regional strategies, policies, plans, and decisions. Governance The ward is divided into four parts, each containing a number of towns and settlements: * ''Kumeū subdivision:'' Kumeū, Helensville, Muriwai, Kaukapakapa and South Head * ''Dairy Flat subdivision:'' Dairy Flat, Coatesville, Wainui and Waitoki * ''Warkworth subdivision:'' Warkworth, Matakana, Leigh, Puhoi, Ahuroa, Kawau Island * ''Wellsford subdivision:'' Wellsford, Te Ārai, Pākiri, Port Albert, Tapora Demographics Rodney Local Board A ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tōtara
''Podocarpus totara'' (), commonly known as the , is a species of Podocarpus, podocarp tree endemism, endemic to New Zealand. It grows throughout the North Island, South Island and rarely on Stewart Island, Stewart Island / Rakiura in lowland, montane and lower subalpine forest at elevations of up to . Tōtara is commonly found in lowland areas where the soil is fertile and well drained. Its Māori language, Māori name comes from the Proto-Polynesian language, Proto-Polynesian word *''tootara'' (related to the word ''tara'' lit. 'thorns, spines and prickles, thorn') which when passed down to descendant languages refer to spiny creatures, especially the Spot-fin porcupinefish, porcupinefish (''Diodon hystrix'') due to its spiky leaves. The spelling "totara" without the Macron (diacritic), ''tohutō'' is also common in English. Description The tōtara is a medium to large tree, which grows slowly to around exceptionally to ; it is noted for its longevity and the great Tree girt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Te Kawerau ā Maki
Te Kawerau ā Maki, Te Kawerau a Maki, or Te Kawerau-a-Maki is a Māori ''iwi'' (tribe) of the Auckland Region of New Zealand. Predominantly based in West Auckland (Hikurangi also known as Waitākere), it had 251 registered adult members as of June 2017. The iwi holds land for a new marae and papakāinga at Te Henga (Bethells Beach) that was returned in 2018; and land for a secondary marae at Te Onekiritea (Hobsonville Point) that was returned in 2015. It has no ''wharenui'' (meeting house) yet. History Te Kawerau ā Maki are the descendants of the '' rangatira'' (chief) Maki and his wife Rotu, who migrated with their family and followers from Kawhia to Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) in the early 1600s. Te Kawerau trace their ancestry from a number of Māori migration canoes, particularly the Tainui, but also Aotea, Tokomaru, Moekakara, Kahuitara and Kurahaupō. Tainui ancestors including Hoturoa and the tohunga Rakataura (Hape) are particularly important in Te Kawerau whaka ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tāmaki Māori
Tāmaki Māori are Māori ''iwi'' and ''hapū'' (tribes and sub-tribes) who have a strong connection to Tāmaki Makaurau (the Auckland Region), and whose rohe was traditionally within the region. Among Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau (the Māori tribes of Auckland), also known as the Tāmaki Collective, there are thirteen iwi and hapū, organised into three rōpū (collectives), however Tāmaki Māori can also refer to subtribes and historical iwi not included in this list. Ngāti Whātua Rōpū Ngāti Whātua descend from the '' Māhuhu-ki-te-rangi'' waka, which landed north of the Kaipara Harbour. The rōpū includes Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua is a Māori Trust Board formed in the mid 2000s to represent the interests of Ngāti Whātua iwi and hapū collectively, including those outside of Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. The rūnanga represents Ngā Oho, Ngāi Tāhu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Variable Oystercatcher
The variable oystercatcher (''Haematopus unicolor'') is a species of wader in the family Haematopodidae. It is Endemism, endemic to New Zealand. The Māori name is tōrea-pango. They are also known as 'red bills'. Description "Variable" refers to the frontal plumage, which ranges from pied through mottled to all black. They are polymorphic meaning they have different genetic variants. These color differences are attributed to the latitude of the habitat, where the northernmost oystercatchers have significantly more white on their bodies than those of southern origin. All Stewart Island variable oystercatchers are black. They have pink legs, an orange eye ring and orange-red beaks. Similar to a needle in shape, the bill is thin and long, and darkens to a deep red color during the breeding season. Males are around 678 grams and females slightly larger at around 724 grams. Length of individuals range from 42 to 47 cm from beak to tail and have a short, sturdy body with a thick ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eastern Reef Egret
The Pacific reef heron (''Egretta sacra''), also known as the eastern reef heron or eastern reef egret, is a species of heron found throughout southern Asia and Oceania. It occurs in two colour morphs with either slaty grey or pure white plumage. The sexes are similar in appearance. Taxonomy The Pacific reef heron was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's ''Systema Naturae''. He placed it with the herons, cranes and egrets in the genus '' Ardea'' and coined the binomial name ''Ardea sacra''. Gmelin based his description on the "Sacred heron" that had been described in 1785 by the English ornithologist John Latham in his multi-volume work ''A General Synopsis of Birds''. The naturalist Joseph Banks had provided Latham with a specimen of a white morph that had been collected on Tahiti. The Pacific reef heron is now placed with 12 other species in the genus ''Egretta'' that was introduce ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
New Zealand Dotterel
The New Zealand dotterel (''Anarhynchus obscurus'') is a species of shorebird found only in certain areas of New Zealand. It is also called the New Zealand plover or red-breasted plover, and its Māori names include , , and . There are two subspecies. The southern subspecies is critically endangered and was nearing extinction with about 70 individuals remaining in 1992. Conservation measures increased this nearly 300 by 2010, but a further decline has occurred to an estimated 101 individuals in 2024. Taxonomy and systematics The New Zealand plover was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's ''Systema Naturae''. He placed it with the plovers in the genus ''Charadrius'' and coined the binomial name ''Charadrius obscurus''. Gmelin's description was based on the "Dusky plover" that had been described in 1785 by the English ornithologist John Latham in his ''A General Synopsis of Birds''. T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fernbird
The New Zealand fernbird or simply fernbird (''Poodytes punctatus'') is an insectivorous bird endemic to New Zealand. In the Māori language, it is named or . Taxonomy The New Zealand fernbird, ''Poodytes punctatus,'' was described by the French zoologists Jean Quoy and Joseph Gaimard in 1832 from a specimen collected in Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere, South Island, New Zealand. They coined the binomial name, ''Synallaxis punctata''. In the past, this species had the binomial names ''Bowdleria punctatus,'' and more recently, ''Megalurus punctatus.'' Recent moluecular phylogenetic studies of the grassbird family Locustellidae have shown that the genus ''Megalurus'' was not monophyletic, resulting in the New Zealand fernbird, and four other Australasian species, now considered to be in the genus ''Poodytes.'' There are five subspecies of New Zealand fernbird present on different islands. They differ in extent of reddish-brown and intensity of streaking, as well as size: * '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spotless Crake
The spotless crake (''Zapornia tabuensis'') is a species of bird in the rail family, Rallidae. It is widely distributed species occurring from the Philippines, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand across the southern Pacific Ocean to the Marquesas Islands to the south east along the Tuamotus island chain to Pitcairn Oeno island, Taxonomy The spotless crake was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's ''Systema Naturae''. He placed it with the other crakes and rails in the genus ''Rallus'' and coined the binomial name ''Rallus tabuensis''. Gmelin's account is taken from that of the "Tabuan rail" that had been described in 1785 by the English ornithologist John Latham in his book ''A General Synopsis of Birds''. Latham's description was probably based on a plate painted by the German naturalist Georg Forster who had accompanied the British explorer James Cook on his second voyage to the Pacific ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Australasian Bittern
The Australasian bittern (''Botaurus poiciloptilus''), or Matuku-hūrepo in Māori language, Māori, is a stocky, sizeable and elusive heron-like bird native to the Wetland, wetlands of Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia.Heather, B. D., & Robertson, H. A. (1996). ''The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand''. Penguin Books (NZ) Ltd. It belongs to the bittern subfamily of the heron family Heron, Ardeidae. The Australasian bittern is best known for its cryptic plumage and behaviours, which allows it to blend into the rushes and reeds of its wetland habitats, making it particularly difficult to spot.O’Donnell, C. F. J., Williams, E. M., & Cheyne, J. (2013)Close approaches and acoustic triangulation: techniques for mapping the distribution of booming Australasian bittern (''Botaurus poiciloptilus'') on small wetlands.''Notornis'', ''60'', 279–284. Despite being rarely seen, Australasian bittern males have a distinct "booming" call that can carry long distances. Physicall ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
New Zealand Flax
New Zealand flax describes the common New Zealand perennial plants ''Phormium tenax'' and '' Phormium colensoi'', known by the Māori names ''harakeke'' and ''wharariki'' respectively. Although given the common name 'flax' they are quite distinct from the Northern Hemisphere plant known as flax (''Linum usitatissimum''). ''P. tenax'' occurs naturally in New Zealand and Norfolk Island, while ''P. colensoi'' is endemic to New Zealand. They have played an important part in the cultural and economic history of New Zealand for both the Māori people (who adapted earlier Polynesian traditions of pandanus ''Pandanus'' is a genus of monocots with about 578 accepted species. They are palm-like, dioecious trees and shrubs native to the Old World tropics and subtropics. Common names include pandan, screw palm and screw pine. The genus is classified ... weaving otherwise unproductive in a colder climate) and the later European settlers. Both species and their cultivars have now bee ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Karaka (tree)
''Corynocarpus laevigatus'', commonly known as karaka or the New Zealand laurel, is a medium-sized evergreen tree in the family Corynocarpaceae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is common throughout the North Island and less common in the South Island. ''C. laevigatus'' individuals are also found on the Chatham Islands, Kermadec Islands, and the Three Kings Islands. ''C. laevigatus'' is mostly a coastal tree, although in the North Island, it is also found inland. ''Corynocarpus laevigatus'' was first described in 1776 by the German naturalists Georg and Johann Reinhold Forster. ''C. laevigatus'' grows to heights of up to and has a stout trunk of up to in diameter. Its leaves are leathery, dark to bright green in colour and up to long. From August to November, ''C. laevigatus'' produces large oval-shaped orange-coloured fruits, about in length. ''C. laevigatus'' seeds are highly toxic to humans and contain poisonous toxins and other glucosides of 3-nitropropionic acid ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
