Kahikatea-pukatea-tawa forest generally consists of lots of kahikatea with varying mixtures of other species. The most widespread include tawa and pukatea, while matai, rimu and tōtara are generally restricted to better-drained soils. Tītoki and pūriri are locally abundant, occurring in greatest numbers on poorly drained soils in the drier lowlands of the North Island.

The natural range of kahikatea-pukatea-tawa forest is the lowland alluvium and floodplains of North Island, and northern and eastern South Island. The projected natural range of this forest type is 1,174,686 hectares.

It’s possible that all species other than kahikatea were more abundant in pre-human forests than predicted here, given the greater ability of kahikatea to regenerate in disturbed or secondary forests. Kauri probably also once occurred in these forests in the north as far south as the northern Waikato and coastal Bay of Plenty.

Common native species, photos courtesy of NZ Plant Conservation Network: