country report

Forests cover about 30 percent or 8.1 million hectares of New Zealand's land area. Of this, about 6.4 million hectares are in natural forest and 1.7 million hectares in planted production forests. Of the total planted production forest estate, 91 percent is radiata pine (Pinus radiata), and 5 percent is Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Hardwoods comprise about 3 percent of New Zealand's planted production forests. The most important hardwood plantation species are eucalypts originating from Australia.

The native forests of New Zealand are among the closest living relatives of the ancient forests of Gondwana. The ancestry of some tree species such as kauri, kahikatea and southern beech has been traced back without discontinuity to the Jurassic period, 100 million or more years ago. These forests remain the favourite home of several animal species of equally ancient lineage.

When people first arrived in New Zealand over 80% of the land was covered in native forests and 20% that wasn’t covered was mostly mountain tops. Now only about 23% of New Zealand is covered in native forests.

The native forests of New Zealand are of three types viz. kauri forests, podocarp and broadleaf forests and beech forests.


The kauri forests grow in the warmest parts of the country, north of the line Raglan-Whakatane. Kauris often occur in pure stands, but the forests include many other tree species, podocarps and hardwoods. The mature kauris dominate the forest by their sheer size, their huge distinctive crowns reaching high and wide over the canopy. In their undisturbed state these forests, like the podocarp-broadleaf forests more generally, are luxuriant, dense, rich in undergrowth, ferns and tree-ferns, lianas and epiphytes. They can present a distinctively tropical character.

Given below are some the reserve forests and national parks in New Zealand which conserve the kauri forests.

REGION
from N to S

FOREST

DETAILS

Northland

Northland Forest Park(NFP) (general)

Protects several large blocks of unmodified or regenerating kauri forest. Over 100 endemic plant species. Stronghold of the North Island brown kiwi. Proposal to gather the most significant blocks into a Kauri National Park.

Northland

Waipoua Forest Sanctuary (NFP)

The largest tract of unmodified mature kauri forest, home to the largest living kauris: Tane Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere. Heart of the proposed Kauri National Park. One of New Zealand's great natural destinations. Several short easy walks, and some longer walks and tramping routes.

Northland

Puketi and Omahuta Forest (NFP)

One of the largest tracts of native forest in Northland. Rich in kauri, podocarp and hardwood. The kauris are mostly regenerating. Home to populations of kiwi, kaka, kokako, and other native wildlife species. Choice of short and medium walks.

Northland

Trounson Kauri Park (NFP)

450 hectares (1125 acres) of some of the best remaining unmodified kauri forest, now managed as a 'mainland island'. Refuge for kiwi, New Zealand pigeon, and other native wildlife species. A short loop on a well graded track.

Auckland

Waitakere Ranges Regional Park

The kauris are regenerating well after intense logging. A few large old trees and dense groves of younger trees in places, at Cascade/Kauri Park especially, with an easy, short loop track and other walks.

Coromandel Peninsula

Coromandel Forest Park

Some fine blocks of intact kauri forest with large specimens; regenerating forest otherwise. A good choice of fine short and medium walks.

Waikato

Hakarimata Range

Mostly regenerating forest, with two large old trees. Loop on a well-graded track.

The podocarp-hardwood forests are found at low altitude throughout the country, except in the drier eastern parts of the South Island. In their undisturbed state they are luxuriant and often present a distinctly tropical character, with their dense undergrowth of shrubs, ferns, tree-ferns, lianas and epiphytes. Hardwood species such as tawa and kamahi form the canopy, while the tall podocarps soar high above it. The presence and distribution of the various species of podocarp trees depends on a variety of factors including local conditions of soil and climate and past volcanic activity. These trees, especially rimu, totara and kahikatea, can live to be very old and reach huge dimensions. One of the largest living totara, near Pureora Forest Park, has a diameter of 3.63 m (11.9'), and is estimated to be 1500 years old.

Given below are some of the reserve forests and natural parks in New Zealand which conserve the podocarp forests.

REGION from N to S	FOREST	DETAILS
Northland	Northland Forest Park	Forest park in several blocks: Waipoua, Puketi-Omahuta, Warawara, Russell, Mangamuka, Herekino, Marlborough, Kaihu, Tangihua. These forests are famous for their kauris, but they are rich in podocarp and broadleaf species. Short walks in Waipoua, Puketi-Omahuta and Russell Forests.
Auckland	Waitakere Ranges Regional Park	Podocarp-broadleaf forest dominates the ranges, with many fine tracts, usually regenerating. The canopy species include rewarewa, mahoe, tawa, taraire, pururi, and kohekohe. Rimu is the most common of the emergents. There are many walks to discover the diverse nature of the forest, in the coastal areas as well as inland.
Auckland	Hunua Ranges Regional Park	Tawa is dominant among the canopy species there. A range of tracks and walks is available.
Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato	Coromandel Forest Park	Forest park in several blocks, covering most of the axial zone of the peninsula, from Moehau in the north to the Karangahake Gorge in the south. Kauri and podocarp-broadleaf forest, mostly regenerating, with some unlogged areas. A choice of fine short walks.
Waikato	Pirongia Forest Park	Located at the limit between northern and southern forests, the park contains no kauri or beech. The vegetation is rich, ranging from lowland podocarp forest to dense subalpine scrub and kaikawaka (mountain cedar) forest.
Waikato	South Kawhia forests
Waikato and Taupo/Ruapehu	Pureora Forest Park	The park is one of the most significant remnants of the podocarp forests than once covered most of the North Island. Contains very large trees, especially totara. Large tracts of unlogged forest. A few fine short walks.
Taupo-Ruapehu	Tongariro National Park	The park contains large areas of superb podocarp and mixed beech-podocarp forest, both in the isolated area north of Lake Rotoaira, and west and south of Ruapehu. Several fine short walks.
Bay of Plenty	Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park	Podocarp/hardwood forest in the north. Some relict kauri as well.
Bay of Plenty	Whirinaki Forest Park	With Pureora and Urewera National Park, this park includes the best lowland podocarp forest in the North Island, mostly in its original state. Magnificent examples of large mature podocarps. A few fine short and medium walks.
Bay of Plenty Hawkes Bay	Urewera National Park	This is the largest area of untouched native forest in the North Island. Forest types vary with altitude and location, from lowland podocarp-broadleaf forest in the north and west, to podocarp-beech associations, and to pure beech at highest altitudes. Several short and medium walks.
Hawke's Bay	Northern Maungaharuru reserves	Four reserves in the Maungaharuru range area, approximately 1 1/2 hours drive north of Napier. Diverse native forest, mostly podocarp-broadleaf, home to native birds. A number of good short walks through the forest, and fine views over Hawkes Bay as well as the surrounding ranges, all the way to Ruapehu on clear days. Other interesting features include Lake Opouahi, eroded limestone (karst) formations, and Shines Waterfall (58 m/190') at Boundary Stream Scenic Reserve. Boundary Stream is one of the country's 'mainland islands' where exotic flora and fauna species are managed in order to re-establish native species.
Hawke's Bay	Puketitiri Reserves	Four reserves located near the eastern boundary of Kaweka Forest Park, north-east of Napier. They include fine stands of mature as well as regenerating native forest, mostly podocarp-broadleaf. Numerous native forest birds, as well as colonies of the native long-tailed bat. A choice of short walks.
Hawkes's Bay	Maraetotara Plateau	Four reserves located south-east of Havelock North. They include fine stands of podocarp and broadleaf forest and several tracks provide for short walks.
Hawke's Bay	Central Hawke's Bay reserves and walkways	Several reserves protect the best remnants of native lowland forest in that area. They include fine stands or specimens of podocarp trees such as kahikatea, matai, miro, rimu, and totara. Good short walks.
Hawkes' Bay	Southern Hawke's Bay reserves	These reserves protect some of the last remnants of the mainly podocarp and broadleaf native forests that covered that area extensively little more than 120 years ago. Mangapuaka Stream Scenic Reserve presents the unusual association of kahikatea and black beach, while Waihi Falls Scenic Reserve has a number of kowhai that attract the native honeyeaters bellbird and tui during the flowering season. A choice of short walks.
Hawke's Bay Manawatu	Ruahine Forest Park	The Ruahine Ranges are part of the main axial mountain ranges of the North Island. There is podocarp-broadleaf forest on the lower slopes, with occasional large trees that have escaped milling. Beech dominates at higher altitude. No real oppportunity for short and easy walks, but the roads leading to the start of the tramping tracks offer an opportunity to discover the forest.
Manawatu	Kawhatau and Mangaweka Scenic Reserves	Fine examples of podocarp forest with diverse native flora. Good short walks.
East Cape	Gray's Bush Scenic Reserve	This is a rare and significant remnant of the kahikatea forest that was common in the Gisborne Plains, before being cleared for agriculture. Under the kahikatea canopy the forest is also rich in puriri, thus forming an unusual association with a coastal character. The forest has a relatively rich undergrowth of trees, shrubs, nikau palms, ferns and tree ferns, and is home to a diversity of bird species. Good walking tracks.
East Cape	Whinray Scenic Reserve	The East Cape area is remote, rugged, and has a large cover of dense intact native forest, especially within the Raukumara Forest Park. On the south-western outskirts of this park, Whinray Scenic Reserve contains 429 hectares (172 acres) of native forest with fine old rimu, matai, miro, rata and kahikatea. Abundant native birdlife, including less common species like kaka, weka and kiwi. The reserve is further enhanced by waterfalls on the Motu river, one of the wildest and most scenic rivers in the North Island. 5 km (3 miles) track through the forest.
Wanganui	Whanganui National Park	Much of the park is covered in native podocarp-broadleaf forest, and the central part is one of the most extensive areas of intact forest of this type in the North Island. A few good short walks in the peripheral areas.
Taranaki	Egmont National Park	The forests that surround Mt Taranaki (Mt Egmont) are dominated by kamahi. At low altitude large rimu and rata tower high above that canopy, and the luxuriance of the forest is unsurpassed anywhere in New Zealand. At higher altitudes the undergrowth is less dense but the trees are often multi-trunked, gnarled and all festooned with mosses, liverworts and filmy-ferns. This forest has long been called 'goblin forest' for its somewhat unreal appearance. Several fine short walks from the road ends.
Taranaki	North Taranaki Forests	This area is relatively undeveloped and retains a substantial native forest cover. Of very special interest are some remnants of lowland and coastal podocarp forest associations. These are rare and of scientific significance. Several scenic reserves with short walks. The Mokau River scenic reserves are of particular interest for their lowland kahikatea forest.
Wellington	Papaitonga Scenic Reserve	Reserve of great significance as one of the rare remnants of coastal podocarp and broadleaf forest, in an area otherwise almost entirely cleared for agriculture. Loop walk to lookout over lake Papaitonga.
Wellington	Hemi Matenga Memorial Park Scenic Reserve	One of the largest areas of native kohekohe forest. Several short walks and lookout.
Wellington	Tararua Forest Park	The Tararua Ranges have an extensive forest cover, with podocarp and broadleaf forest at lower altitudes, and up to the treeline in the north. Some of it unlogged. Short walks from several road ends.
Wellington	Rimutaka Forest Park
Wellington	Haurangi Forest Park
Nelson	Aorere Valley, Kahurangi National Park	Beech dominates the park, but there is fine podocarp forest in the north, in the Aorere Valley.
Nelson	Westhaven Inlet Marine Reserve	A place of outstanding scenery and value. Much of the inlet is bordered by native forest, with kahikatea, rata, rimu, nikau palm and beech. Uninterrupted sequence of native forest, from the hill tops to the sea. Short walk to Knuckle Hill with fine views.
Nelson	Nelson Lakes National Park, lake Rotoroa	Fine podocarp and beech forest on the lake edge. A few short and medium walks.
Marlborough	Tennyson Inlet, Marlborough Sounds	This is one of the most beautiful areas of the Sounds, with its native forest cover still intact. Half-day return walk from Penzance Bay to Deep Bay.
Marlborough	Onamalutu Reserve, The Northbank, Mt Richmond Forest Park	The reserve contains a unique remnant of the tall podocarp forest that once would have covered much of the Wairau valley. Short walks. Camping.
Marlborough	Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve, Richmond Ranges	The reserve protects one of the last stands of river flat forest in Marlborough. Podocarp and broadleaf forest occupies the moist and fertile river flats, with species such as rimu, matai, miro, totara, kahikatea, kamahi and tawa. Black and hard beech are more common on the steeper slopes. Several fine short walks.
Canterbury	Peel Forest	This is the 500 hectare remnant of a larger podocarp forest that was milled until 1908. It contains fine virgin forest and large trees. The fern flora is particularly rich. A good choice of fine short and medium walks.
West Coast/Greymouth	Arthur's Pass National Park	In the park west of the divide the forests are mixed and diverse, and podocarp are commonly found on the valley floors and the lower hillsides. Cockayne Nature Walk in the Otira Valley offers a good opportunity to visit.
West Coast/Fox & Franz-Joseph	Westland National Park and environs	South Westland contains the largest areas of intact lowland podocarp forest in New Zealand. In Westland National Park in particular the forest covers the whole cross-section of the land, from mountain to sea. It is the prevalence of these unique forests, set in the most dramatic and spectacular of landscapes, that make South Westland as a whole a place of truly unique natural beauty. Westland National Park offers a good choice of walks through podocarp and broadleaf forest.
West Coast/Haast	Haast Pass Highway	Several short walks in fine podocarp forest along the highway, both west (Billy Goat Creek) and east (Makarora) of the divide.
Southland	Catlins Forest Park	The park protects a large area of diverse native forest, some of it intact. There are fine areas of podocarp forests in the lowlands and coastal areas, with large rimu, miro, rata. A good selection of fine short walks, sometimes enhanced by wildlife encounters (seabirds, seals).

Like kauris and podocarps, the southern beeches (Nothofagus) have a very old ancestry that is traced back to over 100 million years. The four species of beech are better adapted to colder climate and progressively replace podocarp-hardwood species as altitude increases. These forests occupy vast areas of the mountainous axis of both the North and the South Island, either pure, or as mixed beech-podocarp-broadleaf forest. They are usually less luxuriant than podocarp-broadleaf forests, with a fairly open understory, particularly in the South Island.

Given below are some of the reserve forests and national parks in New Zealand which conserve the beech forests.

REGION from N to S	FOREST	DETAILS

Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay	Urewera National Park	This is the largest area of untouched native forest in the North Island. Forest types vary with altitude and location, from lowland podocarp-broadleaf forest in the north and west, to podocarp-beech associations, and to pure beech at highest altitudes. Several short and medium walks.
Taupo-Ruapehu	Tongariro National Park	There are extensive areas of beech forest south of Ruapehu. Also more patchy areas in the west of the park, especially along stream valleys. Several fine walks.
Hawke's Bay Manawatu	Ruahine Forest Park	The Ruahine Ranges are part of the main axial mountain ranges of the North Island. There is podocarp-broadleaf forest on the lower slopes, with occasional large trees that have escaped milling. Beech dominates at higher altitude. A few short and medium walks.
Wellington	Tararua Forest Park	The Tararua Ranges have an extensive forest cover, with beech forest widespread in central and southern areas. Short walks from several road ends.
Nelson	Abel Tasman National Park	All four species of beech are present in this small park, forming the dominant forest cover down to the coastal areas. A choice of fine short and medium walks from the roadends at Totaranui, Maharau and Canaan Road.
Nelson	Kahurangi National Park	Red, mountain and silver beech form the dominant forest cover in the park, their distribution depending on altitude and soil type. A few short and medium walks in the Cobb and Wangapeka valleys.
Nelson	Nelson Lakes National Park	Beech is the dominant forest cover in this park. Forest grows from the lowest areas, on the edges of lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa, up to an altitude of about 1400 m (4594 '). There is a choice of fine walks at Lake Rotoroa, and even more at St Arnaud on the shores of Lake Rotoiti. The Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project is an easy to visit 'mainland island' in beech forest along the shore of Lake Rotoiti, especially interesting for its rich native birdlife.
Canterbury	Hanmer Forest Park	A number of short and medium walks in a variety of forest types, including beech.
Canterbury	Arthur's Pass National Park	East of the main divide the forest cover is predominantly mountain beech, from the valley floors to about 1300 m (4265 '). Several fine short and medium walks near Arthur's Pass township.
Canterbury	Craigieburn Forest Park	Just south of Arthur's Pass National Park, this park is a high and rugged area. Lower slopes and sheltered areas are clothed in mountain beech. A few short and medium walks in mountain beech forest.
Otago Makarora Valley (Haast Pass Highway)	Mt Aspiring National Park	There is a good choice of short and medium walks through silver beech forest along the highway, along with attractive mountain scenery, pure streams and native bird life.
Otago - Queenstown	Mt Aspiring National Park and nearby areas	The headwaters of Lake Wakatipu, around Glenorchy and the lower reaches of the Dart and Rees valleys, is a place of outstanding scenery. There are a few fine short and medium walks through mainly silver beech forest. Also a few short walks close to Queenstown and on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, with limited amounts of beech forest.
Southland	Fiordland National Park	The forest cover of Fiordland National Park is predominantly beech, although podocarp forest is well developed in coastal areas from Martin's Bay northwards, and in the southern Waitutu Forests. There is a choice of fine short and medium walks through beech forest in the Hollyford and Cleddau valleys. Outstanding scenery and other natural features (waterfalls...) make these walks especially worthwhile.
Southland	Catlins Forest Park	The park protects a large area of diverse native forest, some of it intact. Large tracts of pure silver beech forest inland. A few fine walks in beech and mixed beech-podocarp forest, especially along the Catlins River.

There is very little coastal forest left in New Zealand, mostly due to development along the coast, eg. farming and the building of housing and ports.

The mild climates near the coasts favour the growth of a number of species of trees and can result in the establishment of forests that can be markedly different from the more common podocarp - broadleaf forests. Coastal forests are best developed along the coasts of Northland and outlying islands. There the dominant species is pohutukawa, which in summer is also the most spectacular with its bright red flowers. Other major species include pururi, karaka, kohekohe, and taraire. Nikau palms can be common and even form nearly pure groves in shaded valleys, adding a distinct tropical touch to the forest's character. This is especially well represented in the forests of the north-west coast of the South Island, from Punakaiki to Karamea and beyond.

Given below are some of the reserve forests and national parks in New Zealand which conserve the coastal forests.

REGION from N to S	FOREST	DETAILS

Auckland	Auckland Regional Parks	Fine examples of coastal forest at Wenderholm and Mahurangi Regional Parks, and on the west coast near Karekare. Also Okura Bush Walkway (not a regional park), just north of Long Bay Regional Park.
Auckland	Waitakere Ranges	Several walks along the west coast of the ranges, into fine tracts of coastal forest. The largest taraire forest in the Auckland region is at Karekare.
Auckland	Rangitoto Island	The island is a remarkable example of colonisation of a young volcano by vegetation. The prime colonisers are pohutukawa trees, forming a complete forest cover in which other species such as northern rata and rewarewa can also be found.
Hawke's Bay	Mahia Peninsula Scenic reserve	This 374 hectare (935 acres) reserve is one of the largest remaining tracts of native coastal forest on the whole east coast of New Zealand. As such it is of national significance. The forest trees include tawa, kohekohe, rewarewa, karaka, rimu, matai and kahikatea. Native bird life is abundant.
Nelson	Abel Tasman National Park	The forest is mostly regenerating, but there are fine coastal stands rich in nikau palms, tree ferns and other broadleaf species. Short walks from Totaranui.
West Coast/Karamea	Kahurangi National Park	Dense stands of nikau palms along the coast, especially the coastal part of the Heaphy Track.
West Coast/Punakaiki	Paparoa National Park	Dense podocarp and broadleaf forest right down to the sea, to which a profusion of tree ferns and nikau palms confer a very distinctive character.
Southland	Catlins Forest Park	Rata can be very common in coastal areas, turning the canopy bright red on good flowering years. A good choice of fine short walks.

The trees that grow in the wetland or swamp forests like to have wet feet. Wetland forests are found at the edge of fresh water, near lakes and rivers and in flood plains (low-lying land). Some trees that grow in wetland forests are pukatea, kahikatea and cabbage trees (ti kouka). Other plants found in wetland forests are flax, toetoe, raupo, rushes and sedges.

Alpine forests are found at high altitudes – above about 500m (above sea level) in the North Island and 300m in the South Island. The trees and other plants that grow in alpine forests are adapted to survive the cold. Trees growing in alpine areas will not often grow as tall as the same species would grow in a lowland forest because of the colder climate and wind.

Of the 6.4 million hectares of natural forest remaining in New Zealand, around 4.9 million hectares (77 percent) are unavailable for timber production, being held for heritage, conservation, soil and water, and recreation values. Harvesting timber from state-owned natural forests is confined to the 130,000 hectares set aside on the West Coast and managed by Timberlands West Coast Limited. During 1996, 12,000 hectares set aside in Southland and managed by Crown Forest Management Limited was transferred to the private Waitutu Incorporation. These forests are required to be managed under approved sustainable forest management regimes.

Timber Production, 1997-2000

Wood pulp		Rough sawn timber		Panel products		Chips (for export)		Logs (for export)
Year ended 31 March	tonnes (000)		cubic metres (000)