Prumnopitys taxifolia, matai or black pine is endemic to the North, South and Stewart Islands, although common on Stewart Island. It is found in lowland forest in drier climates, where it can dominate alluvial soils which are waterlogged/flooded in winter and dry in summer. It seems to prefer base-rich substrates and soils. A dioecious conifer, adult trees can grow 25-30m tall with a rounded head that becomes more open and spreading when it matures. It has a  trunk up to 1-2 m diameter, it has dark brown (almost black) bark, falling in thick circular flakes, leaving a distinctive hammer-like scar patterning on trunk. The wood is dark brown to rich yellow-brown and very hard. Juveniles plants are filiramulate, with distinctive, dark brown, slender, flexuous, divarciating branchlets that make its appearance vastly different from its adult form. Adult plants flower from October/November - February, then deep blue-black fruits with a pale purplish bloom appear that take 12-18 months to mature. Ripe fruits may be found throughout the year. Not threatened, although as a forest-type it has been greatly reduced through widespread logging. Very few intact examples of matai-dominated forest remain in the country. The rich brown wood is very hard and brittle with a close handsome grain, that is exceptionally strong and durable, and used for flooring and weatherboards. It is used to manufacture furniture to a lesser extent. Gum from the trunk is the basis for "Matai Beer", a deep, rich brew still made in some parts of the country.