The Mallard (Rakiraki, Anas platyrhynchos) is what any Kiwi kid (and many adults) will think of when the word “duck” is used.

It is classified as abundant and that is my experience of them throughout the country. While the males, in breeding plumage as shown here, are common, almost all of the “boring brown ducks” you see are female Mallards, too.

This one was photographed on the artificial boating lake at Paraparaumu beach.