Native Lowland Forests

Lowland forests extend from the coastal forests to around 500m (above sea level) in the North Island, and 300m in the South Island.

Lowland forests have high conservation value because their soils and climates support a high diversity of native animals and plants (fauna and flora).

Most of New Zealand’s lowland forests were cleared for farming when people arrived in New Zealand. The loss of lowland forest causes native plants and animals to become extinct. It is important to protect the remaining lowland forest from logging and development.

Lowland forests can be found in some parts of the Central North Island, Taranaki, Coromandel, Northland and in Southland. The largest lowland forest is on the West Coast of the South Island.

Temperature and rainfall changes what grows in lowland forests around New Zealand, for example, in the far north kauri and kumarahou are found in lowland forests because they need warmer climates, whereas beech trees can be found in lowland forests with colder climates.

There are two main types of lowland forests in New Zealand – podocarp/broadleaf and beech...

Podocarp/Broadleaf Forests

Podocarp/broadleaf forests have a wide variety of plants growing in them, and the forests have distinct layers...

Podocarp (podo=foot, carp=seed) trees are like conifers. They are more primitive than broadleaf trees. Examples are some of New Zealand's tallest trees - rimu, totora, kahikatea, miro and matai.

Broadleaf trees are the trees that aren't beech, podocarp or conifer (kauri). They are more advanced, with complex flowers. Some examples are rata, tawa and rewarewa.

There are many different plants in New Zealand’s podocarp/broadleaf forests. The plant species found in broadleaf forests vary, as you travel from north to south the number of species decreases. Trees reach their southern limits, which means they stop growing because of the colder climate. But different species will be found, as they like the colder climate. New Zealand's podocarp/broadleaf forest has some similarities with tropical rainforests, they both have many hanging vines and perching plants and they both have dense layering.

Podocarp/broadleaf forests can be broken up into five layers… Emergent Trees - These trees are over 30 metres tall and tower above the forest; rimu, kahikatea, totara, rata, matai and miro. Canopy/Roof – The flowering trees of this layer grow to around 20 metres tall. They make a dense layer of foliage that filters rain and sunlight for the plants below. Some examples are tawa, taraire and beech. Sub-canopy - Tree ferns, nikau palms, mahoe, wineberry and fuchsias can be found in this layer. They can grow to around 10 metres. Small Trees/Shrubs - This layer is shaded by the trees above, they are no taller than 5 metres. Many of the trees in this layer are young, they are waiting for a gap to open above so they can grow tall. Forest Floor - It's wet and dark down here. There are mostly mosses and ferns in this layer.

Beechforests are mostly made up with beech trees, of which there are five native species; red, silver, black, hard and mountain. There are large beech forests in the South Island, and in some higher parts of the North Island, like in Tongariro National Park.

Their canopy is made up with one or more species of beech, there are not many vines and there is much less undergrowth.

The beech forests are the largest original native forests remaining in New Zealand. They survived being burnt or cut down mainly because the land they grow on is often steep and mountainous and is not good for farming and agriculture.