I was out on thistle patrol at Struan Farm when I stumbled upon these, wow! Had to run for both the camera and my trusty fungi guide, "A Photographic Guide to Mushrooms and Other Fungi of New Zealand" by Geoff Ridley.
These are "Shaggy Inkcap, Coprinus comatus." They are considered edible (not going to test that), but apparently must be collected and eaten when young, before they begin to disintegrate. Also interesting to read that alcoholic beverages cannot be consumed for several days before or after, since they contain a compound called coprine that reacts with alcohol, causing tingling, nausea and palpitations. As the fungi disintegrates (the technical terms seems to be "autodigests"), a black liquid drips from the spores. This was used as ink and explains the common name.
Here are some I found on the Wellington waterfront three years ago
https://sporesmouldsandfungi.wordpress.com/?s=comatus
Posted by: Geoff Ridley | 03/09/2015 at 04:41 PM