I estimate that Akaroa is 1.5 hours or so from Christchurch. Contact the penguin people and see what is going on in the ecosystem during your timeframe. That family has been working very hard to clear their land of invasive animals and plants and it is well worth it to hear of the efforts.
The landscape of NZ is so utterly changed from its original state. Every blade of grass is an invasive species. Think of how much area is devoted to grazing sheep…
Invasive species such as the Australia possum and the stoat have devastated the bird species native to New Zealand. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/03/new-zealands-war-on-30-million-possums/273606/ There are now products made with the possum fur that are incredibly warm and soft, much more so than cashmere. https://www.newzealand.com/us/article/a-beginners-guide-to-possum-merino-clothing-and-why-you-need-it/
What I don’t get is that NZ hasn’t seemed to learn their lesson. As we boated around the Queen Charlotte Sound we could see big pens of salmon being farmed. These pens are not seal proof and the seals pop in and out. How do we know if the salmon aren’t getting out too? What would this northern hemisphere fish do to local fish stocks?
D’s luggage was inspected carefully and thoroughly when she arrived - they told her it was for stinkbugs (Asian marmorated whatever they are), which are invasive and common here in Ohio. NZ doesn’t want them.
I think I read NZ is also working on eradicating feral cats?
Cats, foxes - pretty much anything that is a predator. There were no predators before the British and French arrived.