Aotearoa / New Zealand: a unique beginning

Millions of years ago Zealandia broke away from the super-continent Gondwana. It became an isolated environment where unique species of flora and fauna evolved and thrived.

The origins of our unique ecology

Eighty five million years ago tectonic activity started to break up the super-continent Gondwana. This process created a smaller continent, known as Zealandia. Eventually this formed the land of Aotearoa / New Zealand.

The world’s biota (or living things) was very different at the time Zealandia broke away from Gondwana. The continent carried the ancestors of today's plants and animals, which then continued to evolve here in isolation.

Endemic species (only found here) have ancient lineages back to this time. These species include the kauri and podocarps like rimu and tōtara, the southern beeches, wētāpunga and tuatara.

A changing landmass

Zealandia was large at the time of separation. During the Oligocene period (33-23 million years ago) it became progressively smaller.

Following the Oligocene period, volcanic activity and tectonic movements formed and lifted new land out of the sea.

Evolution in isolation

As more land appeared, new species of plants and animals arrived (those that were capable of dispersing across the widening Tasman Sea).

Separated from a world dominated by browsing and predatory mammals, unique species evolved. Numerous species of flightless and ground-dwelling birds evolved. These included nine species of moa that ranged in size from the turkey-sized small bush moa to the 250 kg giant moa. The largest known raptor, Haast’s eagle, preyed on moa and other large ground birds. 

The forest floor was home to many ground-foraging species. These included:

  • bats which scuttled around on all fours
  • giant wētā that filled the niche that small rodents hold in other parts of the world
  • many species of lizards and several species of primitive frogs.

The coast and marine environment supported large populations of seabirds, seals and whales.

A diverse flora, with many endemic plants, evolved to occupy Aotearoa’s wide range of environments. These included the sea coast and wetlands through to subtropical, temperate and alpine habitats.