New Zealand Native Birds

The Kakapo is a rare and unique parrot which has existed in New Zealand for over 25,000 years. It has wings but does not use them. It was once plentiful but numbers reduced dramatically and it is now the subject of a successful breeding programme. It is a large bird which hops rather than walks, and has unique breeding habits. The males set up a series of shallow bowls linked by tracks where they “boom” or call to attract females. They will only breed when there is plenty of food available. Full Kit $40 BUY NOW Finished size 10 x 10 cm All needlepoint kits have the design stamped on the canvas in colour. They come complete with STRAND unique mohair/wool yarn to finish the design and a needle. A chart is also included. Design is printed on 18 count canvas.

The Black Robin is also known as the Chatham Island Robin and is one of the rarest birds in the world. In 1977 only 7 birds had survived but a programme of intensive management has gradually increased numbers. Full Kit $40 BUY NOW Finished size 10 x 10 cm All needlepoint kits have the design stamped on the canvas in colour. They come complete with STRAND unique mohair/wool yarn to finish the design and a needle. A chart is also included. Design is printed on 18 count canvas.

The Kiwi, which is a flightless bird, has become the icon of New Zealand. It is a protected species, like so many New Zealand birds, and efforts are being made to save it from extinction. It is nocturnal and has poor eyesight, but its bill is sensitive with nostrils on the end which allows it to search for the larvae and worms on which it feeds. The thick forests that originally covered most of New Zealand are the Kiwi's natural habitat. Full Kit $40 BUY NOW Finished size 10 x 10 cm All needlepoint kits have the design stamped on the canvas in colour. They come complete with STRAND unique mohair/wool yarn to finish the design and a needle. A chart is also included. Design is printed on 18 count canvas.

The Fantail is most easily recognised by its distinctive long tail and its erratic swooping flight as it hunts for insects. It is one of the best known indigenous birds of New Zealand. The manuka is a highly aromatic shrub found throughout New Zealand. Full Kit $40 BUY NOW Finished size 10 x 10 cm All needlepoint kits have the design stamped on the canvas in colour. They come complete with STRAND unique mohair/wool yarn to finish the design and a needle. A chart is also included. Design is printed on 18 count canvas.

The Pukeko is found throughout New Zealand in lowland swamp areas. They are mainly vegetarian but also eat small fish, birds and mammals in the breeding season. Although more suited to walking on ground because of their long toes they can and do fly quite long distances. Full Kit $40 BUY NOW Finished size 10 x 10 cm All needlepoint kits have the design stamped on the canvas in colour. They come complete with STRAND unique mohair/wool yarn to finish the design and a needle. A chart is also included. Design is printed on 18 count canvas.

Moreporks often referred to as the NZ native owl are more often heard than seen. Their distinctive call of “more-pork”, often repeated in quick succession, is usually heard after dusk. They fly silently and feed largely on insects such as wetas, moths and spiders Full Kit $40 BUY NOW Finished size 10 x 10 cm All needlepoint kits have the design stamped on the canvas in colour. They come complete with STRAND unique mohair/wool yarn to finish the design and a needle. A chart is also included. Design is printed on 18 count canvas.

The Takahe (Notornis mantelli) is a big flightless bird that was considered extinct until it was rediscovered in 1948. A breeding programme is increasing its numbers. These birds are rarely seen in the wild but they can be seen at the Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre near Masterton and on Kapiti Island near Wellington. Full Kit $40 BUY NOW Finished size 10 x 10 cm All needlepoint kits have the design stamped on the canvas in colour. They come complete with STRAND unique mohair/wool yarn to finish the design and a needle. A chart is also included. Design is printed on 18 count canvas.

Blue Duck/ Whio are a taonga (treasured) species that Māori have a strong cultural, spiritual, and historic connection with. Their name in Te Reo Māori is Whio in the North Island, or Ko Whio Whio in the South Island, which depicts the call of the male bird. Whio are believed to be an ancient species of waterfowl that appeared at a very early stage in evolutionary history. Their isolation in New Zealand has resulted in unique anatomical and behavioural features. It features alongside Kate Sheppard on the New Zealand $10 note. The Blue Duck is a river specialist, and is one of the few waterfowl species that live year round on fast-flowing rivers. They are a key indicator of healthy rivers and streams. The more breeding pairs of Blue Duck present, the healthier the river. Blue Duck are found nowhere else in the world, and are rarer than some species of kiwi. The total population is between 2,000 and 3,000 birds- a number that is declining. Full Kit $40 BUY NOW Finished size 10 x 10 cm All needlepoint kits have the design stamped on the canvas in colour. They come complete with STRAND unique mohair/wool yarn to finish the design and a needle. A chart is also included. Design is printed on 18 count canvas.