Conifer–broadleaf forests
With their rich jumble of tangled vines, perching plants and ferns, New Zealand’s conifer–broadleaf forests resemble tropical rainforest. Majestic trees jut up through the...
Sri Lankans
Every Sunday morning Sinhalese children from around Auckland gather at the Buddhist Srilankaramaya temple to learn about the culture, religion and language of their homeland...
Beachcombing
Twice a day the tides wash up driftwood, shells, fishing buoys, and sometimes intriguing clues to life beyond the shoreline. The charm of beachcombing is that you never know...
Open water swimming
Open water swimming is a competition against nature. Swimmers must be fit and determined to succeed against rips, waves, bad weather and tides – with only their swimsuit and a...
Shrublands
Large areas of New Zealand are shrublands – a mix of plants, often including mānuka, kānuka, mingimingi and daisies. Many native shrubs have a wiry, small-leaved growth form...
EnglishWhat's inside Te Ara
The Bush
The land, plants, animals, forests, birds, insects...
Earth, Sea and Sky
Marine life, natural resources, geology, climate...
Settled Landscape
Clearing and farming the land, crops, stock, rural life...
Māori New Zealanders
Māori origins, voyages, iwi (tribes), European encounter, urban life...
New Zealand Peoples
The people who settled here...
Places
Regions – natural environment, economy...
Still to come: Economy and the City, Social Connections, Nation, Daily Life, and Creativity
Also in Te Ara
Snapshots of New Zealand history, culture, nature...
People who made their mark on New Zealand...
Take a trip back in time...
More culture and heritage online
Featured event
Cricket: Men's One-Day - Northern Districts v Auckland
The Northern Knights play the Auckland Aces in this domestic Men's one-day cricket match at Cobham Oval in Whangarei. The 2009/10 NZ... View details
Today in History
09 February 1900
Wanganui Opera House opened
Opened by Premier Richard Seddon, this large wooden building has served
as one of... Read more
Recent additions to our Flickr pool
Do you have photos that we could use on
Te Ara? Join our Flickr group
Don't miss...
Sheep with ryegrass staggers
Ryegrass staggers is a seasonal problem of sheep, cattle and horses that feed on overgrazed ryegrass...
Watch video
Signposts, our blog
When insects attack
08/02/2010 - Helen Rickerby
Maybe it’s a sign that summer has finally arrived — a couple of short comments we’ve recently received from Te Ara users have... Read more
