The vegetation associations and flora of Hi’Tara, a shell cay, Te Whanga, Rēkohu / Wharekauri / Chatham Island

Peter J. de Lange^{1, *}, Willem P. de Lange², Andrew J. Marshall¹

Affiliations:
¹ Applied Molecular Solutions Research Group, School of Environmental and Animal Sciences, Manukau Institute of Technology and Unitec, Private Bag 92025, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
² 61 Clinton Road, RD6, Warkworth 0986, New Zealand.
^* Corresponding author: pdelange@unitec.ac.nz

Received: 19 March 2026 | Accepted: 26 June 2026 | Published: 13 October 2026
Associate Editor: Lilith Fisher
https://doi.org/10.55457/pibdiv.004107

Download PDF

Abstract:
The islands of Te Whanga Lagoon, Rēkohu / Wharekauri / Chatham Island are scarcely documented. Two of the islands are shell cays, Moturangaranga and Hi’Tara. In this paper the geology, physiography, landforms, vegetation associations and some of the biota of Hi’Tara are documented. Hi’Tara has a vascular flora of 50 taxa and four fungi (two rusts, one leaf spotting fungus and a mildew). Fifty-two percent of the vascular plants and fungi are naturalised to the Chatham Islands. Five vegetated landforms and vegetation associations are described. The role gulls and terns (Laridae) have in dispersal of plants, especially naturalised species to islands, is noted, and a plea for further study and formal publication of this in studies involving greater Aotearoa / New Zealand is made. Similarly, there seems to be a dearth of accessible, formally published literature on shell cay systems in Aotearoa / New Zealand. To rectify this, more research into these islands is needed.

Cite as
de Lange, P. J., de Lange, W. P., & Marshall, A. J. (2026). The vegetation associations and flora of Hi’Tara, a shell cay, Te Whanga, Rēkohu / Wharekauri / Chatham Island. Perspectives in Biodiversity, 4(1): 83–96. https://doi.org/10.55457/pibdiv.004107