Waihi North Project: Assessment of Terrestrial Ecological Values & Effects 62138 WNP AEE 39 5.3.1 SNA 166 5.3.1.1 Vegetation and Flora The southern fragment of SNA 166 is an east-west elongated block, approximately 1.5 km long and 57 ha in area. It is situated adjacent to the north of the current Tailings Storage Facilities, to the northeast. The vegetation type was historically kauri, podocarp, broadleaved forest (WF11, Singers and Rogers 2014). However, most of the components of this ecosystem type do not appear to be present. It is currently best described as broadleaved species scrub (VS5, Singers and Rogers 2014). The fragment has four recognised vegetation communities (Figure 21. Vegetation types of SNA 166, including ecological features identified from flora and fauna surveys 2012 and 2017-2020.): ▪ a small kauri dominant stand (Not within the zone of influence); ▪ tree fern scrub; ▪ pine-dominant (with rewarewa); and ▪ rewarewa-dominant (with pine) scrub. These communities are described below. 5.3.1.1.1 Tree-fern scrub Scrub vegetation accounts for approximately 17.3 ha of the SNA 166 southern fragment and is comprised predominantly of tree ferns, with mamaku being the tallest dominant native species. Barberry (Berberis glaucocarpa), hangehange, patē, wheki-ponga (Dicksonia squarrosa), mamaku, and silver fern (Cyathea dealbata) are also present in the canopy and subcanopy, while the understorey is comprised of hangehange, patē (Schefflera digitata) and kiokio (Parablechnum novaezealandiae). Gorse (Ulex europaeus) and multi-stemmed barberry are present throughout these areas. The scrub vegetation around the southern edge of the SNA 166 southern fragment, alongside TSF1A, which borders the tailings access road and the pasture, is primarily a mix of young, short stature native and exotic species comprised of barberry, gorse, mamaku and young broadleaved species such as rangiora (Brachyglottis repanda) and māhoe (e.g. Figure 20). Figure 20. Young, short stature treefern scrub along the southern SNA 166 boundary.
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