@futurebird "For a long time, the perceived wisdom was that New Zealand had no fossil-bearing amber; it was known that ancient kauri gum was found throughout the country (as kauri had grown as far south as Southland during warmer periods) but no one thought of it as amber." (https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ourchangingworld/audio/201847341/insects-remarkably-preserved-in-new-zealand-amber)
"To put that in perspective, before the pair began their research in 2006, there were only six records of fossil invertebrates from New Zealand."
I guess it goes with the coal.
Interesting amber fact: they sell amber jewelry in Estonia even though it's not particularly local; the tourists like it?