Meet the Residents

LIFE ABOUNDS AT THE OPERA

The OPERA is home to numerous species of plants and animals. Checkback often to see additional profiles on residents and learn more about the incredible life with which we share our world.

Bellbird / Korimako

Cabbage tree / Tī Kōuka

Fantail / Pīwakawaka

Little Penguin / Kororā

New Zealand Fur Seal / Kekeno

New Zealand Sea Lion / Pakake / Whakahao

Pied Stilt / Poaka

Pūkeko

Stick Insect

Tūī

Wētā

Yellow Eyed Penguin / Hoiho

Meet the Residents

Spotlight

New Zealand status: Endemic
Conservation status: Not Threatened
Threats: Predation
Learn more: Department of Conservation

Bellbird / Korimako

The melodious bellbird is still widespread but mammalian predators keep their numbers low. Most New Zealanders can easily recognise the bellbird by its song, which Captain Cook described as sounding ‘like small bells exquisitely tuned’. They have three distinct sounds, and songs vary enormously from one place to another. For example, a study in Christchurch found that birds in three patches of bush on the Port Hills all had different songs.

Meet the Residents

Spotlight

Grows 12 to 20 metres high
Phytoplasma organism causing rapid decline of population on North Island
Historically often planted to mark trails, boundaries, urupā (cemeteries) and births, since they are generally long-lived
Learn more: Department of Conservation

Cabbage tree / Tī Kōuka

The cabbage tree is one of the most distinctive trees in the New Zealand landscape. They grow all over the country, but prefer wet, open areas like swamps. Cabbage trees have long narrow leaves that may be up to a metre long. It has lovely scented flowers in early summer, which turn into bluish-white berries that birds love to eat. As the plant gets old, the stems may die but new shoots grow from any part of the trunk. The bark is thick and tough like cork, and a huge fleshy taproot anchors the tree firmly into the ground.

Meet the Residents

Spotlight

New Zealand status: Endemic
Conservation status: North and South Island forms are Not Threatened, Chatham Island form is At Risk–Naturally Uncommon
Threats: Habitat loss, predation
Learn more: Department of Conservation

Fantail / Pīwakawaka

The fantail is one of New Zealand’s best known birds, with its distinctive fanned tail and loud song, and particularly because it often approaches within a metre or two of people. Its wide distribution and habitat preferences, including frequenting well-treed urban parks and gardens, means that most people encounter fantails occasionally. They can be quite confiding, continuing to nest build or visit their nestlings with food when people watch quietly.

Meet the Residents

Spotlight

New Zealand status: Native
Conservation status: At Risk–Declining
Population: 360,000-600,000
Threats: Dogs, predation, road kills, human disturbance
Learn More: Blue Penguins Pukekura or Blue Penguin Colony Oamaru

Little Penguin / Kororā

The little penguin is a species of penguin only found in New Zealand. They are the smallest penguin in the world and are commonly known as little blue penguins or blue penguin due to their slate-blue plumage. They are also known by their Māori name kororā. We are privileged to have nearly 100 little penguins living and nesting within the reserve. We spend time each year monitoring our population and intervening for their health when needed.

Meet the Residents

Spotlight

New Zealand status: Least Concern
Conservation status: Not Threatened
Population: 200,000+
Threats: Dogs, human disturbance, habitat loss
Learn more: Department of Conservation

New Zealand Fur Seal / Kekeno

We are privileged to have two fur seal colonies within the reserve at The OPERA. Once hunted close to extinction, this species is once again flourishing. Fur seals are found on rocky shores around the mainland, Chatham Islands, and the subantarctic islands. These residents are typically hanging out around the beach areas and seen as guests are guided through the reserve.

Meet the Residents

Spotlight

New Zealand status: Endemic species, main breeding colony in decline
Conservation status: Nationally Vulnerable
Population: about 12,000
Threats: Diseases, fisheries interactions, pup mortality, food availability, human impacts
Learn more: New Zealand Sea Lion Trust

New Zealand Sea Lion / Pakake / Whakahao

The New Zealand sea lions are one of the rarest sea lion species in the world and are only found in New Zealand. These special animals are distinguishable from other New Zealand otariids by their blunt nose and short whiskers. We are privileged to see numerous sea lions on our property in the late summer months as they pass through our area.

Meet the Residents

Spotlight

New Zealand status: Endemic
Conservation status: Not Threatened
Threats: Predation, habitat destruction
Learn more: New Zealand Birds Online

Pied Stilt / Poaka

The pied stiltis a dainty wading bird with, as its name suggests, black-and-white coloration and very long legs.It is common at wetlands and coastal areas throughout New Zealand and may be seen feeding alongsideoystercatchers. They tend to be shy of people and fly away, yapping, when approached.

Meet the Residents

Spotlight

New Zealand status: Endemic
Conservation status: Not Threatened
Threats: Habitat loss, predation
Learn more: Department of Conservation

Pūkeko

The pūkeko is probably one of the most recognised native birds in New Zealand with its distinctive colourings and habit of feeding on the ground. Unlike many other native birds, the pūkeko has adapted well to new habitats, such as grassed paddocks, croplands and even city parks, a necessity brought about by disappearing wetlands. However, the pūkeko is essentially a bird of swampy ground, lagoons, reeds, rushes and swamps.

Meet the Residents

Spotlight

New Zealand status: Endemic
Conservation status: Not Threatened
Threats: Wasps, rats, possums
Learn more: Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research

Stick Insect

Stick insects are large insects famous for their close resemblance to the foliage on which they feed. Stick insects are surprisingly common in New Zealand and can be found from coastal vegetation to the high-alpine zone, although many species are poorly known because of their cryptic appearance and nocturnal habits.

Meet the Residents

Spotlight

New Zealand status: Endemic
Conservation status: Not Threatened
Population: Can be locally abundant where there is good pest control and flowering/fruiting habitat.
Threats: Predation, habitat loss
Learn more: Department of Conservation

Tūī

Tūī are unique to New Zealand and belong to the honeyeater family, which means they feed mainly on nectar from flowers of native plants. These attractive birds can often be heard singing their beautiful melodies before they are spotted. You will recognise them by their distinctive white tuft under their throat. Tūī are important pollinators of many native trees and will fly large distances, especially during winter for their favourite foods. They feed mainly on nectar from flowers of native plants such as kōwhai, puriri, rewarewa, kahikatea, pohutukawa, rātā and flax.

Meet the Residents

Spotlight

New Zealand status: Endemic
Conservation status: Various species threatened or endangered
Threats: Predation, habitat destruction
Learn more: Department of Conservation

Wētā

Wētā have been around long enough to see dinosaurs come and go and to evolve into more than 100 different species, all of them endemic to New Zealand. Wētā have become icons for invertebrate conservation in New Zealand because many species are threatened or endangered.

Meet the Residents

Spotlight

New Zealand status: Endemic
Conservation status: Threatened–Nationally Endangered
Population: 1,500 / less than 500 on mainland
Threats: Dogs, human disturbance, climate change, fisheries interactions, predation and disease.
Learn more: Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust

Yellow Eyed Penguin / Hoiho

Yellow-eyed penguins / hoiho are one of the rarest penguins in the world and are only found in New Zealand. Their Māori name, hoiho (meaning noise shouter), was given because of its shrill call. The yellow-eyed penguin is also known as takaraha, and an ancient Māori name was tavora. Hoiho are not as social as other penguins. Very shy, they prefer to nest often well away and out of sight of their neighbours. Hoiho are dependent on both marine and terrestrial habitats. The land provides nesting habitat as well as loafing, roosting and moulting space. The sea provides food for hoiho and is essential for dispersal and movement between terrestrial habitats.

Donate today

Join the effort to reforest and rewild the Otago Peninsula.

DONATE NOW