Story of the Silver Fern
A Rich History
The Silver Fern is one of Aotearoa New Zealand's most recognised, long-standing, and respected national symbols. Since the late 19th Century our fern has been worn with pride by our sports teams, with honour by our soldiers and used to represent our country all over the world.
Why is the Silver Fern so special?
Māori hunters and warriors would use the silver underside of the fern leaves to find their way. When bent over, the fronds would catch the moonlight and illuminate a path through the forest. Today, the Silver Fern is still guiding the way, just as it has for over 150 years.
The New Zealand Government and key private businesses have helped grow the FernMark into a recognisable and valuable icon. Tourism New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise have also adopted the silver fern as the country of origin symbol for New Zealand. And now, the FernMark gives us the opportunity to represent New Zealand on the world stage and bring consumers on a journey to our shores through our New Zealand Story.
TRUST IN THE FERNBUILT OVER GENERATIONS
The ponga or 'silver fern' (Cyathea dealbata) is only found in New Zealand. The silvery-white underside of its leaves have been used for generations to identify a strong connection to our country.
MĀORI INGENUITY
Māori used the silver underside of the fern leaf to catch the moonlight and illuminate their way through the bush at night.