The most damage however was caused by habitat destruction and the other animals humans brought with them, particularly rats (the Polynesian rat or kiore introduced by Māori and the Brown Rat and Black Rat subsequently introduced by Europeans), but also mice, dogs, cats, stoats, weasels, pigs, goats, deer, hedgehogs, and Australian possums.
Possums selectively browse native vegetation causing particular damage to broadleaved trees, notably Metrosideros species including rata.
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In some instances the results were disastrous, such as the economic and ecological effects of introducing rabbits to Australia or possums to New Zealand.