Pakihi are confined to the west of the South Island where they are widely scattered, particularly on old outwash gravels. Pakihi are a type of wet heath, characterised by very infertile soils with an impervious horizon and little or no peat. In South Westland, pakihi have developed as a result of natural processes of inundation of soils where there is impeded drainage combined with soils becoming very infertile as a consequence of developing in areas of very high rainfall. Pakihi-type vegetation in northern Westland is the result of human-induced fire.

Pakihi share both environmental and vegetation features with North Island gumlands. Characteristic species are mānuka, wire rush, Centrolepis pallida and tangle fern.

The projected natural range of pakihi across Aotearoa is 310,716 hectares.

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