Despite being a reclusive and rarely seen species, kiwi are an important part of our national identity as New Zealanders. There is a long history of kiwi research at Te Papa, including work by some of our former directors, and Te Papa holds a significant collection of kiwi specimens and fossils. Science researcher Lara Shepherd will give an overview of Te Papa’s kiwi collections and explain how they have been — and continue to be — used to learn more about these elusive birds.
Lara Shepherd (Science Researcher) is a scientist who uses DNA as a tool to understand the origins and relationships of our plants and animals. Working in Te Papa’s Genetics Lab, she has been involved in the recent Pukupuku kiwi discovery in the South Island, as well as testing kiwi specimens in Te Papa’s collections.