North Cape Scientific Reserve
The North Cape Scientific Reserve is an exceptionally important home to many plants and animals within the Te Paki area. A high number of these animals and plants are found only in this reserve and nowhere else in the world. For this reason, access is restricted to permit only.
'Bonsai' forest at North Cape Scientific
Reserve
Flora
North Cape is of international ecological significance due to the make-up of the environment. Rocky, serpentine soil combined with a harsh climate has given rise to a unique bonsai dwarf shrub community with many peculiarities. These plants, all from different families, have adapted over time to this unique environment. Of the species found here, 17 plants are known to live only in this area, and nowhere else.
The landscape consists of steep cliffs, loose rock surfaces and steep vertical faces. Small pockets of forest are dominated by pohutukawa, combined with kawakawa, mahoe and karaka.
Open coastal land makes up part of North Cape, with eight species of native plants being characteristically low- growing or stunted in form such as kanuka, Coprosma sp., and Hebe sp.
Fauna
Lizards and land snails are found throughout the North Cape. Many populations are in gradual decline; Matapia gecko, Ornate skink, North Cape Pacific gecko, while other animal populations are nationally critical such as the pupuharakeke (Giant flax snail).
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