Found on the plains of Canterbury and inland Southland, this ecosystem is dominated by mataī and kahikatea trees. Mataī is more abundant on well-drained sites along with some tōtara. Kahikatea is more common on poorly drained sites. Broad-leaved trees are much less abundant in mataī-kahikatea-tōtara forest, and are predicted to include tītoki, tawa and maires on more northern sites, and tarata in dry climates, particularly in the eastern South Island. More local species included pōkākā (on poorly drained sites), māhoe, broadleaf, and fuchsia.

The projected natural range of mataī-kahikatea-tōtara forest is 1,260,351 hectares across the plains of Canterbury and inland Southland.

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