The next lesson in language and definitions: Native – Endemic – Beneficial – Pest 

Remember: a Native organism is firmly established in NZ; it’s origin could be from overseas (or an ancient continent like Gondwanaland), but it got here, somehow, on its own accord (flying, drifting on logs, floating in the air, etc) without assistance from humans (luggage, commercial goods, planes, boats, smuggled, imported, etc).

When I work with Teachers (and kids) at schools (Mazda’s Treemendous Education Program; Blake Inspire; Field-Based STEM), I often analyse this definition of native species.

So: I ask the question: “What is the latest or newest native bird of prey in New Zealand?” 

Examples: Silvereyes (white-eyes, Wax-eyes) established here in the 1830s. The first recorded nesting/breeding took place in 1832. Not many people know that, especially since these birds are very numerous in Aotearoa. 

The Māori name is “Tauhou”, which means stranger or new-comer 

This sentinel tree can tell an enormous number of stories – a serious curriculum full of nature knowledge.

LISTEN ABOVE