These spiders are often blamed for rather nasty festering wounds that may take a long time to heal, but are these stories true?
Meet some fast moving hunters that seem to be equally at home in gardens and forests.
While most spiders are content to eat anything they catch, there are some, such as the slater spider, that have a more exclusive palette.
If you are a tramper, chances are you have seen the sometimes very large webs of these spiders. But have you ever seen the spider that made them?
This Aussie immigrant is perhaps one of the most bizarre looking spiders to become established here.
The classic cartwheel-shaped web arguably symboolises spiders more than any other design. Find out more about the spiders that weave these intricate snares.
Have you ever noticed those strange webs on roadside gorse bushes? Did you know there is a spider that walks on water?
Find out about New Zealand's only protected species of spider.
Most New Zealanders are surprised to learn how small and shy the katipo really is.
Spiders that look before they leap!
Is this spider really the most dangerous spider in the entire world?
Find out about the huntsman spider from Christchurch.
'I've found a huge, hairy spider in my bathroom - is it dangerous?' is a common beginning to many phone calls made to Te Papa's entomology department.
Meet a South African migrant that can have people wondering if they have a property infested with katipo spiders.
Meet the movie star spider!