Ecology of Kaharoa
The Kaharoa Conservation Area is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, which is recovering steadily thanks to the ongoing efforts of volunteers and paid contractors during the last 25+ years.
Flora & Fungi
The tree species of Kaharoa consist mostly of tawa, kohekohe, tanekaha, kamahi, rewarewa, pukatea, mahoe and regenerating podocarps (totora, rimu, miro). The forest habitat has been modified by pre-European burning and by logging as recently as the 1980s.
In the understory layer, you will find kareao/supplejack vines growing voraciously, rata, mamaku ferns, ponga/silver fern, nikau palms, porokaiwhiri/pigeonwood, and toropapa among other species.
The forest floor is cloaked in mauku (hen and chicken fern) and bracken. There are also numerous small populations of the rare plant para/king fern (Ptisana salicina), which is on the national threatened species list as ‘At Risk – Declining’. There are countless different species of fungi and epiphytes that can be found.
In 2022, kohurangi/Kirk’s tree daisy (Brachyglottis kirkii) was found in the Te Pehu Pa Reserve. Kohurangi is recognised as being ‘Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable’.
Fauna
The Kaharoa Conservation Area is home to a wide range of bird species. Annual monitoring shows that the most common types are tui, toutouwai/North Island robin, korimako/bellbird, tauhou/silvereye, and riroriro/grey warbler.
Along with kōkako, other birds present include the karearea/bush falcon, miromiro/North Island tomtit, pōpokatea/whitehead, piwakawaka/fantail, kereru/wood pigeon, kotare/kingfisher and ruru/morepork. Whio/blue duck have been found deep in the Paraiti Gorge.
During the summer months, koekoeā/long-tailed cuckoo and pīpīwharaurora/shining cuckoo call Kaharoa home - to lay their eggs in the many pōpokatea/whitehead and riroriro/grey warbler nests.
Average numbers by species at 5-minute bird count recording stations
Pekapeka-tou-roa/long-tailed bats, classed as ‘Nationally vulnerable’, are present in the KCA and have ongoing monitoring, and there is evidence of native geckos in the forest. Koura/freshwater crayfish and long-fin eels are sometimes found in the rivers.
Learn more
Click one of the buttons below to find out more about the Kaharoa Conservation Area and the predator control/monitoring activities we’re doing to protect the flora and fauna of Kaharoa.
