A photo of a dark room with a macroscope and a computer screen

Natural History research: What we do

Find out about the research lines and main projects our team is currently working on.

Biosystematics of New Zealand Fishes

The main aim of our project is to carry out biosystematic investigations on New Zealand EEZ/ECS fishes in order to facilitate their accurate identification.

A man up a ladder picking something of a bushy tree

Research: Conservation of rare and threatened plants

Documenting the pollination biology of threatened plants and trees, identifying orchid mycorrhizal partners and implementing methods to propagate orchids from seed for conservation purposes.

A hand holding a shrub the shape of Africa

Describing and classifying native forget-me-nots

Completing a taxonomic revision of all southern hemisphere forget-me-not species, including about 45 described species and c. 20 informal tag-named species.

Close up of four white flowers growing up from the leafy ground

Describing the New Zealand orchid flora

Using data from herbarium specimens, field collections and DNA analyses to investigate the taxonomic status of orchids in five genera.

Diversity and evolution of New Zealand’s marine mammals

Studying fossils and living marine mammals to elucidate their diversity and evolution through deep time.

The tip of a fern frond with grasslands in the background

Research project: Electronic Flora of New Zealand: ferns and lycophytes

Producing an online resource documenting and illustrating the indigenous and naturalised plants of the New Zealand Botanical Region.

Macro image of a gnat's legs and antennae

Endemic fungus gnats

Creating a revised key of fungus gnats, one of the biggest Diptera groups in New Zealand, including species descriptions and using image material.

man looking at drawer with dead birds lined up in a row

Evolution and conservation of New Zealand birds

Using genetic and genomic techniques to elucidate the relationships of New Zealand birds and inform conservation priorities.

Two people holding a kiwi with one hand holding it's beak

Research project: History and origins of New Zealand's vertebrates

Using fossils and DNA to investigate both the relationships and origins of New Zealand’s vertebrates, plus the impacts of humans on the unique fauna of our region.

Marine mammal function and behaviour

Studying the diversity, function and evolution of marine mammal behaviour, from feeding to swimming and communication.

A close shot of a brown spider on a white background

New Zealand arachnids

Concentrating on two arachnid orders and documenting new species, to better understand known species, and to explore the evolutionary history of these fascinating animals.

Insects sitting on the surface of the water

New Zealand mozzies and biosecurity risks

Working with the Ministry of Health and New Zealand BioSecure to gain more knowledge about our rare and unique mosquito species to help protect New Zealand’s ecosystems and prevent harmful species from spreading.

The underside of a mamaku or palm tree with blue sky above it.

Research project: Pacific ferns: taxonomy and relationships

Improving the understanding of the floras adjacent to New Zealand in the south-west Pacific region, involving the delimitation, naming, distributions, and relationships of species.

Clumps of flowers on a spiky bush high up in the snowy mountains.

Relationships and naming of New Zealand flowering plants

Using genetics to understand the relationships of the following flowering plant genera in New Zealand: Aciphylla, Alseuosmia, Juncus, Pseudopanax, Schoenus and Sophora.

A grey and white bird with a grey fluffy chick in a nest

Seabird conservation

Using field surveys and literature reviews, we are researching the distributions and conservation status of New Zealand’s seabirds.

A scientist wearing blue gloves creating a page with a plant specimen on it

Project: Using genetic data to understand past human interactions with biodiversity

This research uses genetic techniques to provide insight into Aotearoa New Zealand’s cultural past, providing new knowledge on interactions between Māori iwi by determining the translocation pathways of cultivated plant species.

A long, green fern frond with bush in the background

Whole-genome duplication in plants: what is the pathway to success?

Integrating novel and published data on chromosome number, genome size, phylogenetics, environmental factors, and common garden experiments for several study genera.

Mineralogical reference set, circa 1857, London, by James Gregory. Purchased 2001 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. CC BY-NC-ND licence. Te Papa (GH009877)

Meet the Natural History team

Find out about the people that make up our Natural History team and their roles at Te Papa.

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Read blog posts from our Natural History team

Discover stories from Te Papa’s Natural History experts, including curators, scientists, collection managers, and technicians.