Nasa Rover Curiosity: New Zealand Kiwi Sighting On Mars

There aren't many places intrepid Kiwi travellers haven't set foot on in this world and now they're moving on to others.

A New Zealander following the travels of Nasa's Mars rover Curiosity has unearthed possible evidence of a Kiwi hiding on the red planet.

Ned Walker, a New Zealander living in Australia, said he was surprised at the find, but it was unmistakable.

"I have a huge interest in the Mars Curiosity Rover and I like to look at the raw images Nasa uploads onto its site each day from the rover's cameras.

‘‘I was amazed to find in today's raw images what can only be described a Kiwi." Walker thought the "monumental find", would be of interest to all New Zealanders.

The picture shows a shadow cast by a martian rock that looks like the very distinctive native New Zealand bird.

The rover Curiosity landed on Mars in August so has only just started beaming images from the surface back to Earth.

It's older brother, Opportunity, has been on the planet since 2004, without finding any Kiwis or other shadow figures!

Nasa's online publication of the Kiwi picture.