A man who unearthed a giant tube web spider in Pongaroa was the most clicked on story of the year on the Times-Age website.
Matt Charlton, a Tararua district earth works business owner, was clearing forestry when he came across a very large spider "bigger than his hand".
Te Papa arachnologist Phil Sirvid identified the spider as one of 10 from the stanwellia species which are similar to the trapdoor spider, only they burrow under the ground.
He said these spiders were common to New Zealand and could be found anywhere in the country but it wasn't often people came across the open-mouthed burrowing spiders as they lived underground.
"If you come across one, be amazed, you have seen something that is uncommonly seen."
