New research has uncovered that several bird species long thought to be native to New Zealand, such as the kiwis and takahē are actually more recent arrivals from Australia.
Palaeontologists working at the St Bathans fossil site in Central Otago have found evidence suggesting that these birds migrated to New Zealand just a few million years ago, challenging the longstanding belief that they were ancient residents of the region.
Paul Scofield, senior curator of natural history at Canterbury Museum, noted that while species like the kākāpō are indeed ancient natives of New Zealand, DNA evidence indicates that the kiwi and moa diverged from animals in Gondwana, South America, and Madagascar much more recently—approximately 30 to 40 million years ago.
The St Bathans site has also yielded extraordinary finds, including two species of crocodiles and various bats, one of which may have been secondarily flightless.
The excavation, ongoing for 23 years, continues to reveal new species as researchers meticulously piece together individual bones, offering fresh insights into the unique and bizarre wildlife that once thrived in New Zealand.
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