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Mammals of New Zealand facts for kids

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Hector's Dolphins in Porpoise Bay
Hector's dolphins at Porpoise Bay, in the Catlins

Prior to human settlement, the mammals of New Zealand consisted entirely of several species of bat and several dozen marine mammal species. Far earlier, during the Miocene, at least one "archaic" terrestrial mammal species is known to have existed, the Saint Bathans mammal. The Māori brought the kurī (Polynesian Dog) and kiore (Polynesian rat) in about 1250 CE, and Europeans from 1769 onwards brought the pig, mice, two additional species of rats, weasels, stoats, ferrets and possums and many other species, some of which cause conservation problems for indigenous species.

Native species

Conservation status

The Department of Conservation ranks priorities for conservation with the New Zealand Threat Classification System.

Introduced species

The Māori introduced two species: the kurī (dog) and kiore (Polynesian rat). European settlers introduced all other mammal species.

Mammals introduced by Europeans
Species Year of introduction Further information
Red-necked wallaby
Black rat 2024
Cat as early as 1820 Cats in New Zealand
Cattle 1814
Chamois 1907
Common brushtail possum 1837 Common brushtail possum in New Zealand
Tammar wallaby
Elk (wapiti)
European hare 1851
European hedgehog 1870 European hedgehog in New Zealand
European fallow deer 1864
Ferret 1879
Goat late 1700s
Himalayan tahr
House mouse
Kiore 1250
Kurī 1250
Least weasel
Moose 1900, 1910 Moose - New Zealand
Brown rat 1800s
European rabbit 1838 European rabbit in New Zealand
Red deer from 1851
Sambar deer 1875-76
Sheep 1773
Stoat Stoat in New Zealand
White-tailed deer
Wild boar 1773
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