Who doesn’t love a tūī (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) in their garden? Fortunately many of us here in central Auckland have them dropping by, with regular observations right across the region.
Though they like a good insect, they’re predominantly nectar feeders, so love natives like kōwhai, harakeke (flax), pūriri, rewarewa, kahikatea, pōhutukawa, rātā. That said, they also love cherry blossom and other exotic species. We’d prefer you to plant natives, you’ll probably attract tauhou / silvereye, and perhaps, one day, a korimako /bellbird.
Visit New Zealand Birds Online for more on tūī.