Flora and fauna on Rakiura | Stewart Island
A DigitalNZ Story by squiggle_top
A selection of photographs featuring birds, plants, shells and animals found on and around Rakiura.
Rakiura, Stewart Island, Ulva island, Mason Bay, Half Moon Bay, Rakiura Track, kiwi, kakapo, kākāpo
Map of Stewart Island
National Library of New Zealand
Wild landscapes
2022. Photographer Rob Brown talks about the revised edition of his book, Rakiura: The Wild Landscapes of Stewart Island
Radio New Zealand
Discovering flora & fauna
Bluish Top Shell
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Calloria inconspicua
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Tanea zelandica
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Bangiaceae
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Olive Anemone
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Splachnidium rugosum
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Tin Range
Macrolearia colensoi
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Tin Range Mountain Daisy
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Alpine vegetation, Tin Range
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Kiwi spotting on Rakiura
It is one of the unsual aspects of kiwi on Rakiura in that they can often be see during the daytime, at close range, and, in recent years, kiwi have also been spotted in the township.
Stewart Island Kiwi sign
Aotearoa People's Network Kaharoa
Stewart Island tokoeka
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Stewart Island kiwi
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Stewart Island kiwi
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Plenty of other birdlife to see on Rakiura and Ulva Island
South Island Kaka
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
South Island Saddleback
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
South Island Oystercatcher
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Stewart Island Weka
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Although no longer found on Rakiura, kākāpō were present in the 1970s & 1980s.
Kākāpō on Stewart Island
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Stewart Island Robin
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Research
As a unique environment to study, there is a wide array of research data and research publications about the land and animals on Rakiura. A small selection of titles are included here, from different organisations and education institutions.
1976
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
1978
University of Canterbury Library
This DigitalNZ story created November 2023.
Story revised and updated January 2025.