Nicola Toki
Critter of the Week Australasian flying fish
This week's critter is the maroro or Australasian flying fish, Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus melanocercus, one of five flying fish species in northern New Zealand waters. Audio
Critter of the Week: The Helmet Orchid
The windswept helmet orchid (Corybas dienemus) is a rare native orchid that likes cold, damp, windy places. Audio
Critter of the Week
It's hard to love blowflies. They're noisy vectors of disease that like to hang around stinky, decaying meat. But love is often found in the unlikeliest places. If we can get past the ick factor… Audio
Critter of the Week: Intertidal spider
Nicola Toki from Forest & Bird educates us on the intertidal spider, found around the world in the genus Desis, including one spider called Desis bobmarleyi, which lives in Queensland and is named… Audio
Midday Report Essentials for Friday 31 January 2025
In today's episode, the government's freshly announced plans for the Dunedin Hospital shows the rebuild will initially have fewer beds than the current hospital, the government has launched its final… Audio
Forest and Bird on govt's mining strategy
The government has launched its final mining strategy on Friday morning, increasing the number of minerals it considers critical to New Zealand from 35 to 37. Forest and Bird chief executive Nicola… Audio
Stewardship land is valuable land - Forest and Bird
Chief executive of Forest and Bird Nicola Toki says politicians are continuing to misrepresent the value of stewardship land. Audio
Critter of the Week: Shore puha
Before spinach and silverbeet became our go-to greens, the humble puha was there. Puha or sow thistle might be an unassuming 'weed' that many of us pass without noticing, but they have been part of… Audio
Critter of the Week: Te whai rahi | Giant manta ray
This week's critter is one of the most intelligent animals in the ocean. Te whai rahi, the giant oceanic manta ray, has a brain to body mass ratio similar to our own and is one of the only fish that… Audio
Critter of the Week: New Zealand sheetweb spider
Have you ever wondered what critter creates those large horizontal webs in our native forests? This week, Forest & Bird CEO Nicola Toki will introduce you to the creator behind the webs, the New… Audio
Critter of the Week: Thread-legged bug
This week's critter is a curious and cryptic insect you've probably never heard of. The native thread-legged bug, Empicorus seorsus, is unique to Aotearoa and is one of only four thread-legged bugs… Audio
Critter of the Week: By-the-wind-sailor | katiaho rere
This Sunday, November 3rd, is World Jellyfish Day, a time to celebrate these mysterious and wonderful gelatinous sea creatures. The katiaho rere or by-the-wind-sailor (Velella velella) are unique and… Audio
Critter of the Week: Moko-pāpā Waitaha gecko
To celebrate World Reptile Day, we're talking about the elusive and cryptic Moko-papa Waitaha gecko. Audio
Critter of the Week: Kikipounamu | Common Garden katydid
This week's critter is common in home gardens. The kikipounamu or common garden katydid, Caedicia simplex, looks a bit like a leaf - they have a bright green body, long spindly legs and wings that… Audio
Critter of the Week: the prickly shark
This week's critter is the prickly shark (Echinorhinus cookie), an uncommon species of deep-sea shark that lives throughout the Pacific Ocean. All sharks have rough skin, but this shark has… Audio
Critter of the Week: black-headed jumping spider
Looking for a spider to fall in love with? Well, this week's critter is a real head-turner. The endemic black-headed jumping spider, Trite planiceps, loves dancing, hunting and snuggling up in a cozy… Audio
Critter of the Week: common robber fly (Neoitamus melanopogon)
The common robber fly (Neoitamus melanopogon) lives in tussock grasslands and forest clearings throughout Aotearoa. It's only the size of a paperclip but don't be fooled - the common robber fly is a… Audio
Voting to begin in Bird of the Year competition
Voting kicks off this week for Forest and Bird's Bird of the Year competition, with a record number of volunteers signing up to campaign. Forest and Bird chief executive Nicola Toki spoke to Corin… Audio
Critter of the Week: Tokoriro, Occultastella morgana
The elusive and beautiful tokoriro, Occultastella morgana, was only recently discovered on the Denniston Plateau by Massey University Professor Steve Trewick. This remarkable species is just one of… Audio
Bird of the Year returns for 2024
US talkshow host John Oliver, led an aggressive campaign to carry the Puteketeke to a landslide win in last year's Bird of the Century competition. The bird also known as the Australasian Crested… Audio
