Vegetation classes

Below is a description of the vegetation classes to which all vegetation data was reclassified in order to compile a regionally consistent dataset.

Kauri

Kauri forest

Kauri dominant or co-dominant in canopy, other species such as tanekaha often present, also rimu, miro and broadleaved species (puriri, taraire). Poor soils/low fertility sites, dry ridges, also ‘swamp kauri’.

Mature kauri forest

Canopy dominated by mature/original kauri, with kauri grass, Dracophyllum etc. in understorey.

Younger kauri forest

Canopy dominated by kauri rickers with tanekaha often present.

Younger-aged kanuka-kauri-tanekaha scrubland/forest

Regenerating scrubland to forest with kanuka dominant in the canopy and varying amounts of kauri, tanekaha and occasionally rewarewa coming through the canopy.

Podocarp broadleaf and kauri

Podocarp-kauri forest

Rimu and kauri dominant in canopy, miro may also be present, and some broadleaved present (particularly tawa, some puriri).

Podocarp-tawa forest

Rimu and lesser amounts of miro dominant in the canopy along with tawa. Other broadleaved species particularly puriri may be present.

Podocarp-rata forest

Rimu and lesser amounts of miro dominant in the canopy along with rata. Other broadleaved species particularly puriri may be present.

Kauri-hard beech forest

Mixed kauri and hard beech, with lesser amounts of tanekaha. Towai can also be present. This is often found as pockets on dry south facing hill slopes within larger areas of mixed kauri – broadleaved forest.

Younger-aged kanuka-podocarp-broadleaved scrubland/forest

Regenerating scrubland to forest with kanuka dominant in the canopy and varying amounts of rimu, miro, tawa and/or puriri coming through the canopy.

Lowland totara-mixed broadleaved forest

Totara dominant often with kanuka, tanekaha, coastal maire, mahoe, tree ferns.

Podocarp-Tanekaha Forest

Younger regenerating forest with canopy dominated by tanekaha, with kauri rickers and kahikatea often also present.

Mixed podocarp-broadleaved complex

Kauri, tanekaha, rimu, kahikatea, puriri, taraire, tawa present in canopy. Often with podocarps and kauri on ridges and broadleaved species and kahikatea dominant in gullies. Common throughout the region - remnants which are regenerating from past clearance or from past logging and grazing. Often with kanuka in canopy also.

Lowland totara forest

Totara dominated forest often on well-drained river terraces, also hill slopes, minor amounts of broadleaved species due to grazing. This forest type is common in the Rodney Ecological District.

Broadleaf and coastal forest

Taraire forest

With other broadleaved species, tawa, puriri, kohekohe, nikau and occasional podocarp. Common as fragments in Rodney Ecological District.

Mixed broadleaved forest

Mixed broadleaved forest including puriri, tawa, taraire, titoki, mangeao, karaka, rewarewa and pukatea in the canopy (also pohutukawa in inland locations on sand dune country). Podocarps present in low amounts.

Inland pohutukawa ridge forest

Pohutukawa, often with kauri in the canopy, tanekaha often present.

Beech forest

Hard beech forest found on Little Barrier Island and small patches on the North Shore in the Tamaki Ecological District and in the Hunua Ranges.

Kanuka-manuka scrubland

Dominated by manuka and kanuka, sometimes with exotic species (gorse, pampas, hakea). Also occurs as successional type with podocarps regenerating in under-storey on hills slopes and ridges and broadleaved species (mahoe, nikau, puriri) in gullies.

Mixed kanuka–manuka broadleaved-treefern scrubland

Shrubs include mahoe, mapou, lancewood, hangehange and rangiora.

Gumland shrubland/wetland (present on podzolised soils)

Manuka shrubland with sedge (Schoenus tendo)-fern (Gleichenia spp.) under-storey, regenerating kauri and/or tanekaha often present. Examples are found in Albany and Huia-Cornwallis.

Regenerating native forest with emergent pine

A common vegetation type in parts of North Shore, Rodney and Waitakere. Kanuka is dominant in the sub-canopy with mapou and tanekaha.

Bluff shrubland/herbfield

Present in rocky bluffs in the Waitakere Ranges and on Great Barrier Island.

Pohutukawa coastal forest

Pohutukawa with lesser amounts of other broadleaved species and few podocarps present in the canopy. Often with Astelia banksii, flax, houpara and kawakawa in under-storey. Often all that is remaining are thin coastal strips – one tree wide.

Mixed broadleaved coastal forest

Mixed broadleaved species in canopy. Pohutukawa together with kohekohe, taraire, tawapou, puriri, nikau, kowhai. Found throughout the region, more commonly in gullies.

Riverine broadleaved - kowhai forest

Associated with tidal creeks. Present along the Hoteo, Okura and Rangitopuni Rivers and upper Waitemata Harbour. Associated with broadleaved species including titoki, puriri, taraire, kahikatea.

Kowhai forest

Present in dry coastal gravel fields such as along the Miranda coast and found in association with lichen communities and pohuehue on gravel ridges and in association with coastal wetlands in hollows.

Karo-houpara shrubland

Canopy dominated by karo and/or houpara, pohutukawa may be present, range of shrub broadleaved species also in canopy (such as kawakawa). More disturbed and exposed coastal locations particularly on cliffs and headlands, for example Fanal Island in the Taranga Ecological District.

Flax-broadleaved-toetoe shrubland

Flax with range of shrub broadleaved species also present (such as kawakawa, houpara and hebe).

Kanuka-pohutukawa

Younger aged kanuka forest with pohutukawa, found on the North Shore (Tamaki Ecological District).

Volcanic Boulderfield

Pohutukawa-(rewarewa) lava flow forest

On younger aged lava flows, e.g. Rangitoto Island.

Pohutukawa-broadleaved lava flow forest

Broadleaved species include titoki, kohekohe, mangeo and puriri. On older aged lava flows.

Kanuka-(pohutukawa) scoria-ash forest

On younger aged scoria-ash cones.

Puriri-(kohekohe-kowhai) scoria-ash forest

On older aged scoria-ash cones.

Dune vegetation

Dune systems with complexes of native pingao and spinifex, coastal forest and scrubland and coastal wetlands. For example, Waitakere west coast, South Kaipara, exposed east coast.

Mixed coastal dune forest/shrubland

Includes species such as kanuka, karaka, kowhai, kohekohe, puriri, tawapou, taraire, pohutukawa and titoki.

Coastal dune shrubland

Toetoe, tauhinu, Isolepis nodosa.

Coastal foredune

Native sand binding sedges on dunes, some areas may be invaded by marram grass.

Dune lake

Often with kuta, Schoenoplectus, Baumea articulata, raupo wetlands around fringes. Sometimes surrounded by regenerating forest communities. Location: Kaipara, Awhitu, Mangawhai.

Wetland and wetland forest

Maire/tawake wetland forest

Includes maire tawake, with some cabbage trees and also flax in the under-storey. Can include lesser amounts of kahikatea and pukatea in the canopy. Also putaputaweta and kiekie in the under-storey. Found in the Tamaki, Waitakere, Manukau, Awhitu and Hunua Ecological Districts.

Lowland kahikatea forest

Kahikatea dominated forest present on river terraces, minor amounts of broadleaved species due to grazing (usually with a mix of broadleaf/podocarp species including pukatea and nikau).

Manuka/Cabbage tree wetland shrubland

Manuka or cabbage tree dominates the canopy, usually with some putaputaweta, while flax, sedges and rushes are present in the under-storey.

Willow wetland forest

Willow forms a dominant canopy with native rushes, sedges, ferns, flax and various native shrubs in the under-storey.

Raupo/flax wetland

Wetland dominated by raupo and flax.

Rushland/sedgeland/Grassland wetlands

Dominated by native and exotic Juncus spp, native Carex spp. Baumea spp, Eleocharis spp, giant umbrella sedge, native wetland grasses (Isachne globosa), with exotic grasses and herbs often present.

Brackish shrubland

Found on estuarine margins, stop banks and reclaimed terraces. Manuka, Olearia virgata, marsh ribbonwood, oioi, Baumea juncea, sea rush and salt meadow species. Ngaio and/or flax can be present.

Mangrove forest/shrubland

Shoreline dominated by mangroves.

Estuarine rushland/grassland/herbfield

Complexes of marsh ribbonwood, sea rush, oioi, and salt meadow species.

Brackish Dune wetlands

Back dune wetlands with association of coastal and freshwater wetland species ranging from Bolboschoenus, Baumea juncea, oioi, Schoenoplectus, flax, cabbage tree.

Shellbank communities

Shellbanks with native grasses, sedges and herbs such as Austrostipa stipoides, glasswort, Isolepis nodosa, oioi.

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