Definitely a thistle but I don't think this is Onopordum acanthium which can reach 8 - 10 feet and has very silvery and furry leaves.

unfortunately for me Scotch Thistle is known to me as that ( but not anyone else it seems) thanks for pointing this out
http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey...

Does Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) grow in New Zealand? The plant in the picture very much resembles it.

It looks more like Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) to me too and I think it grows in N.Z.

Found this page when googling, introduced and widely naturalized in NZ and Australia: http://www.wildflowers-and-wee...

Cirsium vulgare, common weed of NZ also has the common name of "Scotch Thistle": http://www.rnzih.org.nz/pages/...

Cirsium vulgare is what i thought i put it under and that is what we call a Scotch thistle i probably just looked up scotch Thisle when i added it

I will ask for it to be moved

I did put a link in my answer above ( sometimes my answers don't make sense)