🕳️ Ngahere Neighbourhood – Ground Wētā (Anderus spp.)

Wētā are a well-known part of New Zealand’s wildlife — but have you met this tiny, secretive cousin?

Spotted right here at the Sanctuary, this ground wētā belongs to the Anderus genus — small, nocturnal, and often tucked away in underground burrows often under clumps of moss. They’re usually only active at night, emerging to hunt and scavenge for invertebrates, and can jump impressively high to escape predators.

You can spot a female by the curved ovipositor (egg-laying organ) at her rear (as seen in the picture).
We’ve recorded at least five species of ground wētā at the Sanctuary so far — and there may be more. They`re part of a fascinating world of insects thriving in our native ngahere..

🌿 Ngahere Neighbourhood
There’s more to the Brook Sanctuary than birds! This series celebrates the rich biodiversity thriving in the Sanctuary — a connected community of unsung flora and fauna making the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary their home.

#NgahereNeighbourhood #BrookSanctuary #FloraAndFauna #ForestLife #Wētā #GroundWētā #Anderus #NativeInsects #SanctuaryStories #BiodiversityNZ

✨ Looking for something to do this long weekend? ✨

Celebrate the spirit of Matariki with a guided walk through the Sanctuary this Sunday at 10:30am.

Join our expert guide Erwin for a 60–90 minute journey through the hidden valleys of Brook Waimārama Sanctuary. You’ll begin at the Visitor Centre before heading deep into the ngahere, where you may encounter native birdlife like tūī, bellbirds, and fantails — and hear the remarkable story of the little spotted kiwi, recently translocated to the Sanctuary after more than a century’s absence from the South Island.

Along the way, you’ll explore the Sanctuary’s rich biodiversity, learn about its role before European settlement as a source of food and rongoā (medicine) for Māori, and discover the impact of introduced mammalian predators.

Our expert guides reveal what makes the Sanctuary truly unique — even frequent visitors are surprised by what they discover!

Spots are very limited for this Sunday — book now:
🔗 https://www.brooksanctuary.org.nz/brook-sanctuary-guided-tours

- Link is also in our bio

Also, be sure to keep an eye out — we’re working on something special for those curious about the Sanctuary after dark... when our nocturnal residents come to life. 🌙

#BrookSanctuary #Matariki #GuidedTour #KiwiComeback #SanctuaryStories #LongWeekendPlans #BringingKiwiHome #NgahereWhānau

🌿 Ngahere Neighbourhood – Violet Coral Fungus (Clavaria zollingeri)

Autumn-Winter months mean mushroom season in Aotearoa — and deep in the Brook, the forest floor is coming alive with weird and wonderful fungi. One of the most eye-catching? Violet coral fungus.

Looking like something from beneath the sea, this striking species stands tall like tiny coral towers, bursting from the forest floor in vivid shades of violet and amethyst.

Clavaria zollingeri is saprobic, meaning it plays a vital role in the ecosystem by breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients back into the soil.

There are hundreds of coral-like or clavarioid fungi in many colours and forms. Unlike most mushrooms that produce spores on gills, these species release theirs across the entire surface of their branches, maximising dispersal.

Clavaria zollingeri is uncommon globally, but is part of a rich diversity of native and endemic fungi species here in Aotearoa. At the Brook alone, over 200 fungal species have already been recorded, with likely many more still to be unearthed.

🌿 Ngahere Neighbourhood
There’s more to the Brook than birds! From ancient trees and native fungi to tiny insects, this series celebrates the rich biodiversity thriving inside the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary — a connected community of unsung flora and fauna making the Sanctuary their home.

#NgahereNeighbourhood #BrookSanctuary #FloraAndFauna #ForestLife #NZFungi #MushroomSeason