Spotted skinks

A freshly moulted spotted skink. Photo Alison Ballance

Spotted skinks with different colour bellies. Photo Alison Ballance

These perfect little skink gloves are moulted skin from a spotted skink. Photo Alison Ballance

Taranaki Whanui lead the guests walking through Zealandia to the site where the spottd skinks were released. Photo Lynn Freeman

The Wellington mayor joined Taranaki Whanui, Zealandia staff and members of the public for the release of the spotted skinks at Zealandia. Photo Alison Ballance

The children who were selected to show guests what a spotted skink look like hold up the boxes containing their precious animals. Photo Alison Ballance

Spotted skink catching team on Matiu Somes Island. Photo Alison Ballance

These onduline covers are a good place to find skinks, which like its dark warmth as a hiding place. Photo Alison Ballance

The skinks were released on the cleared slope behind the assembled crowd - the dead wood on the slope will provide hiding places for the skinks, which it is hoped will come out and bask in the sun. Photo Alison Ballance

Spotted skink - this one has lost and regrown a tail. Photo Alison Ballance

Terese McLeod of Taranaki Whanui teaching children the New Zealand sign language word for lizard. In Maori it is mokomoko. Photo Alison Ballance

Sarah and Hazel show off 'their' spotted skink. Photo Alison Ballance

A spotted skink photographed inside its plastic travel box. Photo Lynn Freeman