Tree weta/ Putangatanga
hemideina species
Native
Native
Common in forest, orchards and gardens, especially in firewood sheds. They hide during the day in holes in trees, coming out at night to eat mostly fresh leaves, but also small insects. If handed roughly, they can inflict a painful bite , kick or scratch with their legs.
M5 found this weta in the garden
we use to have access to a holiday home up north when I was a kid it had an outdoor toilet which use to crawl with these fellas
good photo
Cool, was it scary at night? Did you sit on one at night?