Key points
This indicator measures the extent of different land cover in the Waikato region, including native (indigenous) vegetation. Five primary land cover types are measured. These are: native forest; scrublands; tussock grassland; other natural areas; and non-native vegetation (including urban areas).
- Before European settlement the vast majority of the Waikato region’s vegetation was native. About half was forest and the rest was scrub, tussock, wetland or geothermal vegetation.
- Today around 69% of the Waikato Region is planted in non-native vegetation. This is primarily due to the prevalence of pastoral farming and plantation forestry. Different territorial authorities have different mixes of land use, with Hamilton City comprising 60% urban development, the Waipa, Matamata-Piako and Franklin districts comprising 80% or more pastoral farming and the South Waikato and Taupo districts comprising 30% or more plantation forestry. The highest proportion of land in indigenous forest in the Region is in the Thames-Coromandel District (65%) and the lowest is in Hamilton City (3%).
Source: Terralink International Limited
Extent of native vegetation mid 1990s – Land cover class (sqkm)
| |
Native forest |
Scrubland |
Tussock grassland |
Total |
| Franklin* |
126 |
64 |
0 |
190 |
| Hamilton City |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
| Hauraki |
239 |
51 |
0 |
290 |
| Matamata-Piako |
191 |
9 |
0 |
200 |
| Otorohanga |
513 |
111 |
0 |
624 |
| Rotorua* |
58 |
46 |
0 |
105 |
| South Waikato |
173 |
10 |
<1 |
182 |
| Taupo* |
943 |
519 |
179 |
1,640 |
| Thames-Coromandel |
1,000 |
399 |
0 |
1,399 |
| Waikato |
360 |
93 |
0 |
453 |
| Waipa |
107 |
10 |
0 |
116 |
| Waitomo* |
1,059 |
179 |
0 |
1,239 |
| Waikato Region |
4,770 |
1,492 |
179 |
6,441 |
Source: Landcare Research
* Note only part of Franklin, Rotorua, Taupo and Waitomo districts fall within the Waikato Region.
What agencies are doing
- Environment Waikato tracks changes in native vegetation to update this indicator and to assist with policy making and resource consent decisions.
- We are helping to protect areas of native vegetation through education, regulation (vegetation clearance rules on unstable land) and funding support (for example through the Environmental Initiatives Fund).
- Through staff time and expertise we support landcare groups in the Region that are involved in activities that enhance native biodiversity such as planting, pest control and fencing. Find out more about care groups in our Region.
What you can do to help
- Join or form a landcare group in your area.
- Join an environmental group that purchases and manages natural areas, such as the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society.
- Create areas of native vegetation by planting a nurse crop such as manuka in areas unsuitable for other uses, such as steep land or alongside streams.
- Retire unproductive areas from grazing and let them revert to native vegetation.
- Landowners with areas of native vegetation can help maintain it by:
- Controlling plant and animal pests.
- Fencing to keep stock out.
- Protecting the land legally through covenants, for example with the QEII National Trust or with district councils.
- Find out more about managing forest fragments, or order a copy of our forest fragments factsheets.
More information
More detail on this indicator, including how and where this information is collected, is available here.
What we want to achieve
The community outcomes we are seeking to achieve by monitoring the extent of native vegetation:
- The iconic landscapes and natural features of our environment define and sustain us. We respect and celebrate them as taonga.
- Our natural environment is protected and respected. Its ecological balance is restored, its air, soil and water quality is improved and its native biodiversity is enhanced.
- The traditional role of iwi and hapu as kaitiaki is acknowledged, respected and enabled.
- Our region’s waterways have consistently high water quality.