From kiwi to tree fern, and weta to tuatara, this is the story of how animal and plant life came to New Zealand and how they have evolved. The Lonely Islands presents a historical perspective on a range of debates and events that changed accepted thinking. Fossil and sub-fossil discoveries, the acceptance of plate tectonic theory, and the advent of DNA analyses all influenced how we now think about the origins and evolution of New Zealand's life. Author Terry Thomsen's extensive research has resulted in The Lonely Islands: a fascinating and engaging broad narrative of the pre-human history of the islands