The tallest fern in the New Zealand bush is the tree fern or ponga, the leaf of this tree is one of New Zealand's best known national symbols.

The Silver fern has been the countries sporting emblem since 1888. The fern leaves have been used to distinguished New Zealand's Armed Services in both world wars.

By the mid 1890s, Edward Turner had opened a wholesale fruit business, that in 1920 became Turners and Growers, one of Edward's sons was responsible for exports of New Zealand fruits to London in 1946. In 1959 the name Kiwi fruit was used to replace the name Chinese Gooseberry. This resulted in exports to America, and the Kiwi Fruit becoming World Famous!

by Gemma Knight and others Rangi Ruru Girls' School Christchurch