1.Tuatara (sphenodon punctatus)-NZ"s most distinctive creature and a living relic of a period dating back 200 million years. The Tuatara grows to a maximum size of about 60cm and up to 1kg (for males) after 60 years. Once an inhabitant of mainland NZ, they mainly survive on two groups of islands, one off the North East Coast of the North Island and the other in Cook Strait.

2. Made up of three islands country of contrast with a sub-tropical climate in the north and snow clad mountains in the south.