[4] The type specimen was collected by British botanist and scientific collector Andrew Sinclair in New Zealand.

[9] Non-breeding individuals have a paler plumage and females tend to be a bit lighter, smaller and have a slightly shorter bill than males.

They show aggressive territorial behaviour towards intruders [8][3] and the otherwise silent species give short calls throughout the breeding season and when in danger.

Until the adult plumage develops, the chick has irregular striped markings on head and neck and the bill is black.

In 1994, the IUCN classified the New Zealand grebe as Endangered, but due to conservation actions including habitat management, its population has recently increased to around 1,900–2,000 birds and was reclassified as Near Threatened in 2016, and to least concern in 2022.

[1] Human activity currently has a net benefit as artificial habitat, including farm dams and ponds formed for stock water supplies, increases the area of occupation for the grebes.