"A distant land, cloud capped, with plenty of moisture and a sweet scented soil." Kupe

A Unique, Lost World: Biogeography of NZ

New Zealand became isolated abut 80 million years ago, when it separated from the ancient super continent Gondwana. This became known as the Rangitata land mass.

By 60 mya, the Tasman Sea, separating from Australia and NZ arrived at its full width.

By 26 million years ago, there were two main features which dominated the New Zealand land mass area : the Challenger Rift system off the western coast, and which had begun forming around 60 million years ago, and the plate boundary running along the line of the Alpine Fault and the Hikurangi Trench, off the lower North Island and upper South Island coastal areas.

It wasn't until about 5 mya, that the shape of the 2 main islands began to form. With mountain uplift an increase in water out of the atmosphere occurred. The relief created by new hills and mountains lead to an increase in aquatic habitats.

7000 years ago, most of New Zealand was covered in rain forest, and within the protection of surrounding seas, many flightless land birds evolved. The most famous and now extinct was the Moa.

Kiwi also adapted well to the New Zealand environment, there are 4 species- all of which are protected today.