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Classification systems

New Zealand’s geography is highly variable, and its environment can change greatly over relatively short distances. However, geographically remote areas can have similar environmental characteristics (that is, similar climate conditions, landforms, and soils) that support particular ecosystems (habitats and species). These areas are said to be ecologically similar.

As an example, swampy areas on poorly drained recent soils in river valleys occur in many places between Gisborne and mid-Canterbury, although these places are geographically separate. Another example is the similarity of kiwi habitats, found in some parts of the North Island, South Island, and Stewart Island, even though these habitats are not geographically connected.

Once we have identified and mapped areas that have a similar ecological character, we can compare environmental data from these areas. This helps build a greater understanding of the state of New Zealand’s environment, and helps decision-makers make appropriate environmental management decisions.

Environmental data from one area can also be used to extrapolate what might be happening in an area with similar ecological character, for which environmental data is not available. In this way, data from a limited number of monitored sites can be used to build a national picture of the state of the environment.

To identify, map, and extrapolate data in the ways described above, we use ecological classification systems. These systems compile information to identify and then map similar environments, biological regions, or land covers.

The ecological classifications used in New Zealand for national state of the environment reporting can be split into the following areas:

Last updated: February 2009