About 1000 years ago the first humans, Eastern Polynesians, arrived to New
Zealand in a double canoe (seen on right). They brought with them many animals and plants that
would change the ecology forever. Among these are the Polynesian dog and the
Polynesian rat. These native New Zealanders, called Moaris, burnt much of the
forest to create farming land and/or to chase Moas (giant extinct birds) for hunting
purposes.
Eventually the Europeans arrived, burning more forest and bringing many other plants and animals (including cattle). This further changed the ecology of New Zealand.