The genera Deinacrida White and Hemideina Walker are redefined, and four new species of Deinacrida are described and figured. Deinacrida mahoenui n.sp. is a relict from lowland forests in the north of North Island, while D. elegans n.sp., D. pluvialis n.sp. and D. talpa n. sp. are alpine species from the Southern Alps. This paper raises the known number of species of giant weta (Deinacrida) from 7 to 11 and gives a key to distinguish them.