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Story: Subantarctic islands

Rātā forest, Auckland Island

Rātā forest, Auckland Island

Beaten by the constant winds, the rātā forests which line the shores of the Auckland Islands form a contorted network of branches below and a compact canopy above. The southern rātā trees (Metrosideros umbellata) are rarely more than 20 metres in height. They are found up to an altitude of about 50 metres above sea level.

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by Andy Palmer

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, Subantarctic islands – Land and plants, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/38506/rata-forest-auckland-island (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 28 November 2012.

Comments

Jeannette Shennan
09 February 2023
The height of southern rata on the Auckland Islands is certainly not 20 metres, even rarely. I'm not sure what this should be - they are over 2 metres - one walks under them - maybe 3 or perhaps rarely, 4. I think they don't reach 20 metres even on the mainland.