A classification of New Zealand terrestrial ecosystems

A classification of New Zealand terrestrial ecosystems

This resource classifies Aotearoa into 152 distinct ecosystems to help agencies make better decisions about land use and planning. It can be a useful tool for understanding policy decisions and how they might affect your whenua.

The report includes a detailed methodology, explaining how these classifications were created, and the underlying data is available in a number of formats by request.

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Biodiversity

  • DOC Ecological Districts

    Whenua
    Biodiversity
    Conservation
    Planning

    This map shows different areas of Aotearoa that have similar physical and biological characteristics.

  • Our Land 2024

    Climate
    Biodiversity
    Community
    Conservation
    Flooding
    Health and safety
    Resilience
    Sustainability

    Understand the impacts that land use in Aotearoa has on people, whenua, and te taiao.

  • Key to wetland types of New Zealand

    Whenua
    Biodiversity
    Conservation
    Water

    An interactive key to identify different wetlands that can be found in Aotearoa.

Planning

  • Land Typing

    Whenua
    Farm planning
    Planning

    See the natural land types of an area on an interactive map.

  • WWO tools and their uses (Report)

    Climate
    Adaptation
    Emissions reduction
    Planning
    Sustainability

    Get an overview of the datasets and tools in the WWO Data Supermarket.

Conservation

An alternative perspective

Explore related content

Taking a look at the big picture

Whenua
Biodiversity
Conservation
Planning
Soil
Water

Explore how land use affects soil and water quality across New Zealand catchments.

New Zealand Land Cover Database

Whenua
Arable crops
Farm environment plan
Forestry
Horticulture
Planning

See land cover in Aotearoa and how it has changed over time.

Threatened Environments Classification

Whenua
Biodiversity
Conservation
Regeneration

The Threatened Environments Classification can help you better understand the health of your local ecosystems.

Climate and Land Use Change: A Synthesis of LURNZ Modelling

Climate
Adaptation
Dairy
Forestry
Productivity
Resilience
Sustainability

Read about the impacts different Aotearoa land use change scenarios might have on cliamte and socio-economic outcomes.

Analysis of drivers and barriers to land use change

Whenua
Dairy
Horticulture
Planning
Policy
Productivity
Soil
Water

This report explores factors affecting land use change in New Zealand, targeting economic, social, and environmental aspects.

Key to the grasses of New Zealand

Whenua
Biodiversity
Conservation

An interactive key to identify different Aotearoa grass species.

Key to the weed species of New Zealand

Whenua
Biodiversity
Conservation
Pests and diseases

An interactive key to identify different weeds that can be found in Aotearoa.

Marine Farm Boundary

Whenua
Alternative protein
Sustainability
Water

This map shows areas in Aotearoa that are used for aquatic farming.

Erosion Susceptibility Classification

Whenua
Erosion
Forestry
Policy
Risk
Sustainability

The ESC can determine whether you need resource consent to establish plantation forestry on your whenua.

Whenua Futures - A tool for Tairāwhiti

Climate
Biodiversity
Forestry
Planning
Regeneration
Sustainability
Wellbeing

Explore land use impacts of different land uses in Tairāwhiti with this interactive forestry tool.