Gathering water is a top priority if trapped in the New Zealand bush, but dining on native edible plants can provide additional  energy and sustenance to survive. Words: Mieke Couling You’d be a bit silly to enter the bush unprepared to face unfortunate circumstances, but if you ever do find yourself having to survive in the wild, it will only aid your situation if you have some basic knowledge about edible wild plants. While surviving on native edible plants in the NZ bush is unlikely to maintain your weight, they should provide you with the energy and sustenance to survive.