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Story: Ecoregions

Forest remnants

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Forest remnants

Before humans arrived in New Zealand and began to burn the forests, the flood plains and lowlands of the central North Island were covered with dense stands of rimu and mataī. In wetter areas kahikatea also grew. These huge forests have been reduced to small remnants.

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Department of Conservation

Reference: 10049804

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How to cite this page

Matt McGlone, Ecoregions – Central volcanic plateau, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/12572/forest-remnants (accessed 8 June 2026).

Story by Matt McGlone, published 1 March 2009.