Lexi Webster
Australia is known for its dangerous wildlife, but its neighbour New Zealand has relatively few dangerous creatures. While New Zealand does have some potentially harmful animals, the risk they pose is minimal. The country's most famous native animal is the kiwi, a flightless bird, and it also has unique birds and parrots like the kea, tui, yellow-eyed penguin, little blue penguin, and morepork owl. New Zealand's waters are home to some potentially dangerous species, such as great white sharks, but attacks are extremely rare. There are also wild boars and spiders like the Katipo and red back, but again, encounters and fatalities are uncommon. Overall, New Zealand's natural beauty and diverse ecosystems can be explored with little worry about dangerous animals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Dangerous animals in New Zealand | Spiders (Katipo, Red Back, White-Tailed), Sharks, Marine Animals, Wild Boars |
| Dangerous animals in Australia | Snakes, Crocodiles, Koalas, Kangaroos, Wombats, Emus, Platypuses, Echidnas, Cockatoos, Rosellas, Lorikeets, Marsupials |
| Similarities | Both countries have parrots like the Kea, and similar sports (Cricket, Rugby, and Soccer) |
| Differences | Australia is much drier than New Zealand, and has a more varied landscape. New Zealand has a smaller land area and a smaller population. |
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What You'll Learn
Spiders
Katipō (Latrodectus katipo)
The Katipō is New Zealand's only native venomous spider. Its bite can cause systemic effects such as hypertension, seizures, or comas, but no deaths from Katipō bites have been recorded for over 200 years. Katipō are shy and their bites are extremely rare. They are found in coastal areas in both the North and South Islands, making their webs on warm sandy beaches and sand dunes. To avoid contact with Katipō, it is recommended to wear footwear when walking on beaches and sand dunes and to take care when moving debris and plants in these areas.
Redback Spider (Latrodectus hasselti)
The Redback Spider is an introduced species from Australia that has established a foothold in limited areas of New Zealand since the early 1980s. They are more likely to be found around houses, taking advantage of the warm environment. Redback Spiders are not aggressive and will only bite when disturbed or trapped in clothing. Their bites are rare but can cause localized redness, pain, sweating, stomach pain, aches in muscles and joints, nausea, vomiting, and increased heart rate and blood pressure.
White-Tailed Spider (Lampona cylindrata)
The White-Tailed Spider was introduced from Australia and has been implicated in causing necrotic lesions on rare occasions. However, recent research suggests its bite is not as dangerous as previously thought, with typical reactions being mild but sometimes causing discomfort.
In summary, while New Zealand does have some venomous spiders, they are not a significant danger to humans due to their rarity, non-aggressive nature, and the availability of effective treatments for their bites.
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Sharks
New Zealand does not have many dangerous animals, especially when compared to its neighbour Australia. The country's natural beauty and diverse ecosystems can be explored with little worry about encounters with dangerous animals. The primary concerns in the New Zealand wilderness are not animals but environmental conditions, such as rapidly changing weather, volcanic activity, earthquakes, and rapidly rising rivers.
However, New Zealand's waters are home to some potentially dangerous species, such as sharks. Around 66 shark species have been identified in the surrounding seas, with about a dozen that fishers and swimmers regularly come across. While shark attacks are rare in New Zealand, there have been fatal encounters with sharks in the country. The most recent fatal incident occurred in 2021 on the North Island, with several sightings but no further attacks since then.
Great white sharks, considered the deadliest and most dangerous shark species, can be found around both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The young prefer the warmer northern waters, while adults can be found in southern waters near seal colonies. The great white shark is an apex predator, capable of reaching great speeds when pursuing prey and leaping clear of the water. They can grow up to 7 metres long and pose a significant threat to humans, with the highest number of unprovoked attacks among all shark species. Since 1888, there have been 13 injuries and 13 fatalities from shark attacks across New Zealand, with the most recent occurring in 2023 when a 19-year-old was attacked by a suspected great white shark.
Other shark species commonly found in New Zealand's coastal waters include spiny dogfish, rig, school shark, blue shark, mako, thresher, carpet sharks, six and seven-gill sharks, bronze whalers, hammerheads, and manta rays. While most of these species are considered harmless to humans, it is important to exercise caution and follow safety guidelines when swimming or engaging in water activities in areas known for shark activity.
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Marine animals
New Zealand is known for its lack of dangerous wildlife, especially when compared to its neighbour, Australia. There are no snakes, large predators, or deadly land animals in New Zealand. However, there are a few marine animals in New Zealand that can pose a threat to humans.
One of the most well-known dangerous marine animals in New Zealand is the shark. While shark attacks are extremely rare, they do live in New Zealand waters. Beaches and marine reserves are generally considered safe for swimming, diving, and surfing. Another dangerous marine animal in New Zealand is the bluebottle jellyfish, also known as the Portuguese man o' war. These jellyfish are small and practically invisible in the water, making them difficult to spot and avoid. They have long tentacles that can deliver a severe sting, causing pain, fever, respiratory distress, and even anaphylactic shock. They are most commonly found during the summer but can be present in the ocean and on beaches throughout the year.
New Zealand's coastal waters are also home to a range of venomous fish and sea urchins. Stingrays, for example, can deliver a venomous sting if provoked or stepped on. While not exclusively a marine animal, the grey side-gilled sea slug is another dangerous creature found on New Zealand beaches. It produces a deadly toxin called tetrodotoxin (TTX), which is also found in puffer fish. Although humans are unlikely to consume this sea slug, it poses a significant danger to dogs, and several dog fatalities have been linked to this species.
In addition to these marine animals, New Zealand is home to several species of potentially dangerous spiders, such as the Katipo, Redback, and White-tailed spider. However, these spiders are rare, and their bites rarely result in fatalities, as effective treatments are available. Overall, while New Zealand does have some potentially dangerous marine animals, the chances of encountering them are relatively low, and the country is considered safe for outdoor activities and wilderness exploration.
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Wild boars
New Zealand is known for its natural beauty and diverse ecosystems, which can be explored without much worry about dangerous animals. The country does not have many dangerous animals because, over time, its geographical isolation meant that there was no need for local species to adapt and become poisonous. New Zealand does not have any large predators like snakes, and its venomous spiders are extremely uncommon.
Wild boar hunting is a popular pastime in New Zealand, and they can be hunted all year round without any limit. Hunters typically use dogs to track and subdue the boars, and then finish the pursuit with a knife, rifle, or bow.
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Kea parrots
Historically, Kea parrots were hunted by Polynesian settlers, and they were also killed by sheep farmers due to concerns about attacks on livestock. Today, the Kea parrot is protected under the Wildlife Act, and it is now uncommon to find them in New Zealand's North Island. While New Zealand is known for its lack of dangerous wildlife compared to Australia, the Kea parrot's intelligence, curiosity, and tendency to interact with their surroundings can make them a unique and memorable part of the country's natural landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
New Zealand is remarkably safe when it comes to dangerous wildlife, especially in comparison to Australia. There are no venomous snakes or large predators in New Zealand. However, there are a few dangerous animals in New Zealand to be cautious of, including sharks, wild boars, and spiders.
The Katipo spider is New Zealand's only native venomous spider, but it is extremely uncommon and shy, making human encounters rare. There's also the red back spider, which is an introduced species and also rare. Both spiders' bites can be harmful, but fatalities are extremely rare and effective treatments are available.
Yes, there are sharks in New Zealand waters, including great white sharks, which are considered one of the world's apex predators. However, shark attacks in New Zealand are rare and not something people tend to worry about.
