Paua Gecko/lizard

Geckos and lizards are found throughout New Zealand on both main islands and most offshore islands. It is another name for lizard, the most famous of which, in New Zealand is he Tuatara. In New Zealand, geckos are extremely slow breeding and long-lived: some geckos have been shown to live for at least 42 years in the wild. There is a great variety in colour & size, from bright-greens & yellows to bark-like grey's and browns. Geckos can range in size from just a few centimeters to more than 50 cm in length. The largest species of gecko is the Delcourt's gecko (which is now believed to be extinct) which is native to New Zealand, grows to nearly 60 cm in length.

Māori believed in giant reptiles simply called ngārara; they were a type of taniwha and looked like lizards or Tuatara. Lizards and Tuatara were often seen as kaitiaki (guardians) and released near burial caves to watch over the dead. They were also thought to protect the health and vitality of a forest or tree.