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Glossary:

   Avon River: Runs through the South Island city of Christchurch, also known as the Garden City. The Avon flows through the central urban area, and a central city park of 186ha and is often pictured with people punting its waters or picnicking on its banks. In summer it is a shallow, shade-dappled relief, but once brought the first settlers to the site of what would become the largest city in the South Island.   

Black shag: Known in other parts of the world as the great cormorant. To find out more about this bird in New Zealand, go here.

Canterbury: A province on the east coast of the South Island, main city Christchurch. The Canterbury Plains, an area of merged river deltas, are the largest stretch of flat land in New Zealand. The province was named after the Canterbury Association formed in England in 1848 to organise an Anglican settlement in NZ. It is known for its sheep, dairy and grain production, its prowess at rugby (current All Black captain Richie McCaw plays for Canterbury), and the hot, dry nor'wester wind which makes residents' lives a misery. For more on the wind, see here.

Cook: Captain James Cook, RN, was a man of humble origins who became one of the world's greatest navigators. He was the first person to comprehensively map the coastline of New Zealand, and claimed the country for Britain on his first arrival in 1769. He made three voyages to the Pacific, spending much time in both New Zealand and the Polynesian Islands - he was killed in Hawaii in 1779. To find out more about his life and achievements, go here.

Flax: The flowers of the native flax (harakeke, right) are nectar rich and a popular food  source      
for many of New Zealand's native birds, including the tui (see below). The rest of the plant has several uses, including for fibre and medicine. For more information see here.

Godwits: Migrate to New Zealand each year from Alaska and Siberia along the Pacific Flyway. They arrive each September (spring) and leave each April (autumn). It is believed the birds from Alaska make the 1600km journey in one, continuous flight.

Hokusai's Great Wave: One of the best known woodcut prints to come out of Japan, it was made in 1831 and is correctly known as The Great Wave off Kanagawa. To see the print, and find out more about the artist go here.

Kokako (co-car-co): Also called the blue-wattled crow, is a blue-grey forest bird with colourful fleshy wattles below the beak and a velvet-black "lone-ranger" mask. Because their wings are small and weak, kokako glide, and run and jump through the forest canopy on their long black legs. North Island birds have blue wattles, while South Island birds have orange wattles. When they sing all in the forest stop and listen in awe. This kokako website includes examples of their lovely song.

Also the name of a New Zealand haiku journal. For more information see here.

   Kowhai (ko-fie): A member of the pea family that grows as a small tree or shrub with yellow bell-shaped flowers. Many of New Zealand's native trees have small flowers, but the kowhai smothers itself with electric-yellow flowers much loved by nectar-feeding birds. Maori used parts of the tree for traditional medicines, while the flowers were used to make a dye. To find out more go here.

Landscape Road: A street in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. A popular route for tour buses visiting the old volcanic crater of Mt Eden (Auckland is built on 50 volcanic cones and craters - there is some concern that they are merely dormant.) See also Rangitoto.

Mt Hutt: A popular ski resort in the Southern Alps, an hour's drive from Christchurch.

Moutara (mow-to-ah-ra): Is an island bird sanctuary in Queen Charlotte Sound (northern South Island) which is home, to among other native birds, the endangered South Island saddleback (see listing below).

Pa: A fortified place used by Maori as a place of safety, usually on a hilltop and surrounded by ditches and pallisades. They were not always lived in year-round. Find out more here.

Paekakariki (pie-cock-ah-ree-key): A seaside village 50km north of Wellington, Paekakariki was once famous for its pub (demolished in 2005), and is popular with workers who commute to the capital by rail. During World War 2 it was the base for some 20,000 US Marines. To find out more, go here.

Pohutukawa (poh-who-to-car-wah): Also called New Zealand's Christmas tree because its feathery, red blooms, which occur during summer (see Seasons), are set against dark green leaves. The Metrosideros excelsa is a coastal tree, often with several trunks, massive canopies and gnarled roots sprawling along cliff faces. The leaves contain tiny hairs which filter out salt spray. Honey from pohutukawa is said to be especially fine. More information from Project Crimson.

Rangitoto (rang-ih-toe-toe): A volcanic island in Auckland's Waitemata Harbour, its cone is a touchstone view for the central business district and many residents. It erupted from the sea some 600 years ago and although its slopes are still bare lava in places, the island is home to the country's largest pohutukawa forest, as well as many other native plants. A popular destination for day trips (no overnight stays allowed) with some demanding walks. More information here.

Red admiral: Is a butterfly native to New Zealand, once common on both main islands, now less so, mostly through habitat destruction as they lay their eggs in nettles. Find out more about the butterlfy's life cycle and see pictures here.

Red snapper: A saltwater fish, found around most of New Zealand's coast and the southeastern coast of Australia. They occur in association with deep coastal reefs, in particular caves and overhangs, as well as in open water, to depths of about 400m. Red snapper average 30-40cm in size. A good eating fish.

Saddleback: Before mammals were brought to New Zealand, the saddleback (tieke, pro: tea-eh-key) was one of the most common birds on both mainland islands, but by 1900 they were found only on offshore islands. Their decline was in part due to habitat loss and the fact they spend a lot of time on the ground and so are more vulnerable to predators. Visit this website and this one to find out more, and hear their song.

Seasons: Northern Hemisphere readers should remember that our seasons occur in different months - generally, spring is from September to the end of November, summer from December to the end of February, autumn from March to the end of May, and winter from June to the end of August. Because New Zealand is a long country, the seasons will vary slightly depending on location and, for instance, winter will be more severe in the lower South Island and milder in the upper North Island.

Shigenobu River: Flows through Matsuyama on the island of Shikoku.  The island, the smallest of Japan's four main islands and the least developed, is home to the Route of the 88 Temples, an ancient  Buddhist pilgrimage. Matsuyama is known as the hometown of haiku, thanks to the work of Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902), There are haiku "post boxes" in many public places, with forms to write your haiku, name and address beside each box.

     Silver fern: The national symbol of New Zealand sports which has been adopted by the country at large. An alternative national flag, used widely at sports events, shows a giant silver fern on a black background - many national sports teams wear black uniforms. The silver fern is a frond of the ponga (tree fern) with the silver part actually being the underside of the frond. See more about the tree fern here.

Tui (two-e): Also called the parson bird by early English settlers because of the two, small curled white feathers at its throat. The tui's glossy feathers are otherwise dark, iridescent shades of black, blue, green and purple. It is known for its song, which varies from area to area, and which ranges from a rasping croak to a string of sweet, melodious notes. It has also been known to imitate the song of other birds. One Maori translation of its name is "to pierce". For more see here.

Whitebait: The immature stage of several native fish species, much prized for eating in New Zealand. The season for taking whitebait from rivers (as they head upstream from the sea where they have spawned) is, for most of the country, from August to November (spring to early summer). The tiny fish (about the size of a metal nail) are caught either with scoop nets (dipped in when the fish are spotted in the water) or square set nets, which are "set" in the river. Only amateurs may fish for whitebait, no commercial operations are allowed.

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