Tara Ward watches the new TVNZ series that shines a light on our most at-risk creatures. 

The lowdown

Endangered Species Aotearoa with WWF is a new nature documentary series hosted by comedian Pax Assadi and conservationist Nicola Toki. As the title suggests, this series takes a close look at some of the most vulnerable and threatened creatures in Aotearoa. Assadi and Toki travel around New Zealand and the South Pacific, climbing mountains and crawling along the forest floor to get up close and personal with an impressive array of vomiting grasshoppers, cheeky keas and other species at risk of extinction. 

What’s good? 

The moment you see a grumpy, shirtless Assadi drag himself up a big hill while telling everyone that he “hates nature”, you know Endangered Species Aotearoa isn’t your standard nature documentary series. We’ve never heard Sir David Attenborough whinge about getting out in the fresh air, but maybe that’s what’s been missing from Blue Planet all along. Endangered Species Aotearoa is a series aimed at the many New Zealanders who, like Assadi, will happily admit to loving nature primarily from the comfort of their own homes. 

Assadi calls himself an “armchair wildlife enthusiast”, but it doesn’t take long for his co-host Toki to convert him into a fully-fledged nature lover. A biologist and chief executive of Forest and Bird, Toki is the perfect foil to Assadi’s reluctant adventurer, and her endless enthusiasm and knowledge is the show’s biggest strength. There’s plenty of friendly, lively banter between the co-hosts, as Toki throws Assadi into a variety of wacky situations so he can get to know our natural taonga a little better. 

Endangered Species Aotearoa lifts viewers up with humour, and then brings us back to earth by reminding us that as far as the planet goes, we’re up the freshwater creek without a paddle. According to the WWF, more than 4,000 of our native species are endangered, 76% of our freshwater fish are in threat of extinction, and only 10% of our native wetlands remain. The creatures living in these habitats are wonderfully unique, like the breed of weta that can cryogenically freeze themselves, while others, like the rock wren, live so remotely that we can’t access many of their nests. They’re pretty cool creatures, but they’re on their way out, unless we do something to help.  

This is where Toki and Assadi come in. Episode one sees them visit the Mackenzie Basin (“a place I just discovered isn’t accessible by Uber,” Assadi jokes), where they track kea in Aoraki National Park, learn about kārearea from Ngāi Tahu elders and visit a predator-free sanctuary for tiny insects. The show is made in partnership with the Department of Conservation, and we meet several DOC workers who dedicate their working lives to protecting these creatures. It’s wonderful to see that they’re making a difference, but heartbreaking that it needs to happen in the first place. 

Also wonderful? Seeing Assadi come round to the wonders of the natural world. Birds! Trees! Native fish being stunned by an electrical current! “This is the best wildlife experience I’ve ever had in my life,” he tells Toki, after meeting a kea named in his honour. The climb up that hill was worth it, after all. 

The verdict

Watch it, but know that this isn’t your typical nature documentary series. Endangered Species Aotearoa is relaxed and funny, but it doesn’t shy away from the grim reality faced by much of our native wildlife. By taking us up close to these at-risk creatures, and by sharing the joy and wonder that Assadi and Toki experience first-hand, Endangered Species Aotearoa wants to make every armchair enthusiast aware of how important these animals are. It’s up to us humans – even those of us currently trying to order an Uber to the Mackenzie Basin – to do something more to save them. 

Endangered Species Aotearoa with WWF screens on Mondays on TVNZ1 at 8.30pm and streams on TVNZ+.