Environment
Breathless. That’s how the Northland environment will quite often leave you.
A warm, green subtropical climate (no snow here!), clean fresh air, extraordinary coastlines and dunes, rolling green pastureland and flat lowlands, deep forests, impressive limestone features and old volcanoes.
Primordial
Northland is home to remnants of the once vast, ancient kauri tree forests that greened Northland. As New Zealand was populated, many forests were felled but now wherever kauri forest grows in Northland, Maori and local communities are working towards its conservation to actively protect the natural taonga (treasures) of these forests. These trees are quite simply an integral part of Northland’s spirituality.
Life's a Beach
Northland's long coastline is diverse in its beauty - there is another wonder around every corner
Northland has 1,700 km of coastline. To the West lies the Tasman Sea and to the East, the South Pacific Ocean.
The west coast is a wild, environment with great surf and sweeping sand dunes. The east coast provides a usually calmer environment with white sandy beaches and sublime coves although there are also some top surf spots.
The marine reserve, Poor Knights Islands and surrounding waters, are renowned for their remarkable caves and natural arches.
Many islands lie off the coast and indeed the Bay of Islands is named for its sprinkling of 150 islands.
Fabulous Fauna
Our ancient forests provide habitats for Northland wildlife including the brown kiwi – New Zealand’s iconic bird and other rare and secretive wildlife include bats, and birdlife like the haunting kokako.
Estuaries and tidal mangrove flats on both coasts teem with wild life including resident and migratory birds. Most of the coastline and harbours are safe for fishing as well as for gathering shellfish – fresh New Zealand kaimoana (seafood) is one of life’s great delights.
We have a richness of aquatic life of a slightly larger size, with pods of dolphins, orca and whales commonly sighted.
A Blaze of Red
In summer the coasts blaze with the deep red of the flowering pōhutukawa, native to Northland and an iconic tree that once in bloom, heralds the coming of Christmas and summer holidays for Northlanders – sunny summers full of beaches and sand and water and life to live.
Fiercely Protected
Northland's world famous underwater environment is simply spectacular
More [?]
And Northlanders are committed to preserving this wonderful environment with many individuals, communities and agencies recognising and working to balance the sustainable growth of industry, particularly agriculture and tourism, with the needs of our environment and our residents, both human, and flora and fauna.
Join Northland on: Twitter Facebook YouTube Tumblr