Katipo Spider
This spider’s name translates in Maori as ‘night stinger’. It is the most poisonous native animal in NZ. It is related to the Australian redback & the American black widow.
The females are the ones to watch out for. They have a distinctive red stripe & are the ones that can bite (the fangs of the male are too small). Despite their reputation bites from the katipo spider are uncommon & unlikely to be fatal.