There are approximately 400 hundred plant species (excluding mosses) at the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua. This includes 140 tree species, many of which are not yet registered on the Unitec’s arboretum list (which contains 220 tree species), therefore contributing substantially to the Unitec’s campus tree diversity. All those plants provide invaluable habitats for many native animal species.

Some 25 bird species have so far been recorded at the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua. There are skinks and many species of endemic and exotic fungi, insects and spiders.

It is an unrecognised biodiversity hotspot: a biodiversity jewel in the Auckland isthmus. Visit iNaturalist to see some of the recorded observations at the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua as well as the wider Mount Albert area.

In the spotlight

First poppy flowers (genus Papaver) for the season are appearing in the rainbow garden at the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua. — First **poppy flowers** (genus *Papaver*) for the season are appearing in the rainbow garden at the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua.

Queensland kauri trees (Agathis robusta) growing on the northwestern corner of the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua's headland shelter are showing a flush of new growth. The new leaves start out yellow which contrasts strongly with the dark green of mature lea… — **Queensland kauri trees** (*Agathis robusta*) growing on the northwestern corner of the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua's headland shelter are showing a flush of new growth. The new leaves start out yellow which contrasts strongly with the dark green of mature leaves, and new growth gives the appearance of flowers.

A white-banded house jumping spider (Hypoblemum griseum) on a kumara slip (Ipomoea batatas) in the greenhouse at the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua. This Australian species is now one of the commonest jumping spiders in New Zealand. — A **white-banded house jumping spider** (*Hypoblemum griseum*) on a **kumara slip** (*Ipomoea batatas*) in the greenhouse at the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua. This Australian species is now one of the commonest jumping spiders in New Zealand.

Yellow flowers that festooned the Waitākere kōwhai trees (Sophora fulvida) at the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua are being replaced with long, dangling seedpods. The seeds will swell as they mature and give a pronounced segmented appearance to the seedpod. — Yellow flowers that festooned the **Waitākere kōwhai trees** (*Sophora fulvida*) at the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua are being replaced with long, dangling seedpods. The seeds will swell as they mature and give a pronounced segmented appearance to the seedpod.

Numerous green fruit on our Kermadec Islands nikau palm (Rhopalostylis cheesemanii) growing in the swale at the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua which when mature will turn brick-red. This species is endemic to the Kermadec Islands. This nikau plant was obtain… — Numerous green fruit on our **Kermadec Islands nikau palm** (*Rhopalostylis cheesemanii*) growing in the swale at the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua which when mature will turn brick-red. This species is endemic to the Kermadec Islands. This nikau plant was obtained by Richard Main (Gardens4Health) from the New Zealand offshore plant collection at the nearby Mt Albert Research Centre.

GALLERY PREVIOUS MONTHS

Sanctuary Mahi Whenua from above. Cameron Crosby ©.

Young nymph of the native katydid or kiki pounamu (Caedicia simplex)

A flower spike of a Heliconia or false bird of paradise (Heliconia subulata)

Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis), a natural pesticide. The wing covers (elytrae) on this specimen are orange with black spots.

Caterpillars of the native yellow admiral butterfly (Vanessa itea) found in in the patch of introduced perennial nettle (Urtica dioica).

Living between leaves and fruit of a lemon tree (Citrus limon cross) are some endemic leaf-veined slugs (Athoracophorus bitentaculatus).

Caterpillars of our endemic kōwhai moth (Uresiphita maorialis) eating leaflets of our Cook Strait kōwhai trees (Sophora molloyi). It is the first report of those carterpillar on this kōwhai species.

A female nurseryweb spider (Dolomedes minor) is guarding her eggsac on a rosemary plant (Rosmarinus officinalis). Usually females are only found on their nursery webs at night. This is a relatively large endemic species (body length about 25 mm) that hunts its prey at night.

A female Auckland tree wētä (Hemideina thoracica) hides head-first in the leaves of one of our citrus trees (genus Citrus). Mäori called this species tokoriro.

Our Three Kings vine (Tecomanthe speciosa) climbing one of the Queensland kauri trees (Agathis robusta) has a few large seed pods that may remain attached for several years. Tecomanthe is an endemic species to the Three Kings Islands and its conservation status is "Threatened - Nationally Critical"

Our buttercup tree (Senna corymbosa, variety "John Bull") has masses of 25 mm buttercup-yellow blooms.

Our Cook Strait kōwhai trees (Sophora molloyi) start flowering in June. Its current conservation status is "at risk, naturally uncommon".

The Mexican marigold (Tagetes lucida) growing in the herb garden greets the visitor with its bright golden-yellow flowers.

Globe artichokes (Cynara scolymus) are large, perennial plants with silvery-green leaves, and often more than 2 m tall at the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua.

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) and twobanded bumble bees (Bombus terrestris) visiting the newly opened poppy flowers (genus Papaver)

New Zealand endemic flower longhorn beetle (Zorion batesi) feeds on the pollen of a number of species, including hemlock here (Conium maculatum, and has only been recorded from the Auckland region.

New Zealand endemic tumbling flower beetle (Zeamordella monacha; family Mordellidae) on a flowering hemlock plant (Conium maculatum)

The kumara (Ipomoea batatas) in the puke (mounds) of the māra kumara. View through the māra boundary kānuka (Kunzea ericoides) poles shows one of the three tīraha (gifting mounds) at the front.

Small berries on this large branch of taupata (Coprosma repens) at the point of ripening.

Damson plums (Prunus domestica subsp. insititia) are both high in sugars and highly astringent, and are best known for jam making or flavouring gin.

kōkihi or New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides). It is native to New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Chile, and Japan. Captain Cook used this species to help fight scurvy on the Endeavour in the 1769 voyage.

A group of 8 pīwakawaka or North Island fantails (Rhipidura fuliginosa placabilis) are living in the buffer zone of the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua.