The name Red Tussock (Chionochloa rubra) comes from a hardy native grass that grows wild throughout the Te Anau region. Unlike many other plants, it thrives in challenging conditions such as alpine, wet, and cold environments. Red tussock plays an important role in the landscape, helping to stabilise soil, reduce erosion, and absorb excess water to minimise flooding. It is also a key food source for the rare and flightless takahē, a bird found in the nearby Murchison Mountains and symbolic of Fiordland’s unique wildlife.