Indigenous Vegetation

There are a total of 11 natural areas within the district that are protected by covenants from the Queen Elizabeth II Trust (QEII Trust). The areas that are protected range in size from as little as 0.72 hectares up to one block over 82 hectares. All of the protected areas, with the exception of one, are forest remnants of lowland and podocarp types. In total over 253 hectares of the district are protected by way of QEII covenants. In the last two years two consent notices have been issued to protect trees and indigenous vegetation.

Of the 175,416.9 hectares of the district, 85% (or 150,812.9 hectares) is not indigenous cover, much of this is pasture. Of the remaining 15%, (or 24,604.0 hectares) in indigenous vegetation the majority is either forest or wetland as the graph shows.

Plant and Animal Pests

Environment Waikato administers a number of plant and animal pest control operations within the Matamata-Piako District. Four Tb (Tuberculosis) pest control operations are being run in the Hapuakohe Ranges, Kopuatai Peat Dome, Hangawera Hills and the Hauraki River. In addition, one community based animal pest operation in the Te Tapui/Whitehall area is also underway.

Habitat Fragmentation

There have been no consents granted by Council for the harvesting of exotic forestry or excavation within the Kaitiaki Zone which would provide an indication that habitat fragmentation was occurring.

Soils

Geologically the plains are made of sedimentary and alluvial deposits. Soil types on the plains are largely a mix of grey soils with yellow brown loams. The map below shows the areas of the district that contain peat soils. The graph below shows that approximately 7% of the district, (or 11,586.57 hectares) are either predominantly peat, or contain some peat soils. These areas require careful management to ensure that the current peat soils are maintained.