Boris Johnson learns about NZ wildlife with Maggie Barry

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has arrived at Zealandia to get a lesson on plants and NZ wildlife from Conservation Minister Maggie Barry.

As they walked along the tracks, Barry told him about the tuatara and impact of rats on the population.

"The rats zapped the tuatara?" Johnson asked her.

Barry told him they were a direct link to Jurassic Park and got a laugh when she said they were not that big.

"Size doesn't really matter in this case," she said.

Boris Johnson and Maggie Barry at Zealandia with a Tuatara. Photo / Pool

He suggested she start a rumour about "aquatic tuatara" and regaled her with his wish to bring back the red squirrel in London after the takeover by the grey squirrel.

"You had to put huge nets all over the place."

He asked about the squirrels in New Zealand.

Barry replied "that was one of the vermin that didn't come here".

Barry then moved on to identifying plants and birds for him.

The wildlife sanctuary is Johnson's final event on his first trip to New Zealand.

He leaves this afternoon.