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New Zealand is unique. It has a natural history like no
other large landmass on earth.
The islands that were to eventually become New Zealand broke off
and drifted away from the nearest landmass over 60 million years ago. They evolved
during this period without the browsing pressure of mammals.
Native plants co-evolved with browsing and grazing native birds,
developing defenses and strategies to overcome that impact, or to
benefit from the birds, by pollination, seed dispersal or habitat
maintenance. Today, native plants have few of the defenses against
browsers, such as thorns, tough leaves and plant poisons, which
evolved in countries with browsing and grazing mammals.
The result – a unique lush gentle landscape
free from predator and thorn.
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