Josh Overend Photography

Josh Overend Photography Kia ora, and welcome to my wildlife photography page.

My goal is to showcase Aotearoa’s incredible wildlife and share fascinating facts about them, while also featuring some of the world’s most extraordinary animals from across the globe.

31/05/2026

Our oceans are incredible 🌊

Sometimes it’s worth slowing down and appreciating the wildlife that depends on them, and remembering that we do too.

Healthy oceans support life on Earth. If we don’t protect them, we put our own future at risk.

Enjoy these amazing dusky dolphins riding the wake of Te Ao Mārama with 🐬
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Mohua | YellowheadAnother image from my time on Ulva Island last year, and potentially my favourite mōhua image I’ve cap...
29/05/2026

Mohua | Yellowhead

Another image from my time on Ulva Island last year, and potentially my favourite mōhua image I’ve captured to date. I love how the deep green tones of the forest contrast against the bright yellow plumage, with the supplejack vine creating the perfect natural perch.

These at-risk birds are thriving on Ulva Island thanks to the complete eradication of introduced predators. The island has also never been logged, meaning the forest understory remains rich with shade-tolerant species beneath towering old-growth rimu, southern rātā, and miro trees.

It’s an incredibly special place, and an absolute must-visit if you’re heading to Rakiura!
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Canon ANZ

Kererū | Wood PigeonSpending time in a location like Rakiura, where the bird life feel comfortable enough to forage on t...
07/05/2026

Kererū | Wood Pigeon

Spending time in a location like Rakiura, where the bird life feel comfortable enough to forage on the ground is truely special. This doesn’t happen in many places across Aotearoa with the threat of predation by introduced mammalian predators, but it is amazing to see in places with lower predator numbers.

Witnessing these behaviours is a testament to the work that’s gone into controlling mammalian predators on Rakiura. DOC, along with organisations and volunteers have done an amazing job suppressing predators and allowing the native wildlife to thrive.
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Canon ANZ Southland NZ

Tawaki | Fiordland Crested PenguinThe rugged coastline of Rakiura / Stewart Island is one of the best places to encounte...
04/05/2026

Tawaki | Fiordland Crested Penguin

The rugged coastline of Rakiura / Stewart Island is one of the best places to encounter wild Tawaki. Nesting in the dense coastal rainforest above the cliffs, their striking white plumage stands out beautifully against the dark rock faces and crashing southern seas.

These two birds posed perfectly, creating one of my dream images of this incredible species while out with Rakiura Charters during my trip to Stewart Island last year.
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Canon ANZ

04/05/2026

Have you seen a Kōkako before?

The grey colouration and haunting call of the Kōkako has earned it the nickname “The Grey Ghost,” and they are one of Aotearoa’s most iconic and special forest birds.

This individual was filmed on , a predator-free sanctuary where these incredible birds can thrive without the pressure of introduced predators.

While their South Island relatives are sadly extinct, years of dedication from conservationists and volunteers are helping the North Island species recover, raising hope that one day their haunting calls may once again echo across much of the North Island.
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Kōtuku | White HeronThe kōtuku is one of Aotearoa’s most elegant bird species. It breeds at a single site on the West Co...
27/04/2026

Kōtuku | White Heron

The kōtuku is one of Aotearoa’s most elegant bird species. It breeds at a single site on the West Coast of the South Island before dispersing throughout the country to overwinter, frequenting freshwater and estuarine habitats.

Their seasonal return is a welcome sight, offering a reminder of the importance of protecting and restoring our freshwater ecosystems to ensure this species continues to thrive into the future.
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Canon ANZ

07/04/2026

Last year I had my favourite little owl encounter to date!

This cute little family had made their home in an old woodpile and I couldn’t be happier about stumbling across them!

Aren’t they cute!
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I’m incredibly proud to have two of my images featured in this year’s Tūhura Otago Museum Photography Exhibition. “Lunch...
04/04/2026

I’m incredibly proud to have two of my images featured in this year’s Tūhura Otago Museum Photography Exhibition. “Lunchtime in the Canopy” and “Pāteke Stretch”, a kōkako and brown teal captured on Tiritiri Matangi Island, were both selected as finalists in the Wild Aotearoa category.

Seeing my work printed and displayed in a museum gallery alongside some of New Zealand’s top photographers was a pretty surreal moment.

Huge congratulations to all the winners and everyone whose work made it onto the walls. The level of passion and talent in this space is seriously inspiring.

And a big thank you to my partner Georgia for sharing the experience with me.

Pīpipi | Brown CreeperOn my visit to Ulva Island last year, my main target was mohua. I was lucky enough to find and pho...
29/03/2026

Pīpipi | Brown Creeper

On my visit to Ulva Island last year, my main target was mohua. I was lucky enough to find and photograph several of these bright yellow birds, but one of the biggest surprises came while searching the beaches for adult male sea lions when I came across a small flock of pīpipi.

I knew they were present on the island, but past experiences with this species had rarely rewarded me with a clean shot. Their constant movement and limited pauses in activity make them a real challenge to photograph.

That’s why I was especially stoked to come away with this image, capturing a brown creeper foraging for small invertebrates beneath the lichen on this tree.
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Canon ANZ Predator Free Rakiura Stewart Island / Rakiura

Ruru Nohinohi | Little OwlsHere is another favourite from my little owl encounter over the Christmas break. It was a com...
23/03/2026

Ruru Nohinohi | Little Owls

Here is another favourite from my little owl encounter over the Christmas break. It was a complete surprise stumbling across this small whānau on the roadside, especially after spending countless hours searching for them around home with very little luck.

Often mistaken for our native ruru, these little owls were introduced from Germany in the early 1900s to help control crop-damaging birds. There’s no real evidence that this was ever successful, and it serves as a reminder of the unintended consequences that can come with introducing new species to Aotearoa.

While they haven’t had the same devastating impacts as others, it’s still a story worth remembering. That said, I’ll never not appreciate an encounter like this out in the wild.
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Canon ANZ

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