Coprosma propinqua or mikimiki is an endemic species with 2 varieties, Coprosma propinqua var. propinqua which is found in the North South and Stewart Islands, and Coprosma propinqua var. martini which is found on the Chatham Islands.
Coprosma propinqua var. propinqua is found from Mangonui southwards in the North, and throughout the South and Stewart Islands, in shrubland, scrub, forest margins, sometimes in forest, in scattered grassland, on rocky bluffs, on stony ground, and in wet sites from near sea-level to 850m asl. It is a very common, variable species that forms a bushy shrub which is known to grow from 1-6m high. It has wide-angled branches with grey or sometimes orange-brown bark, that bear clusters of pairs of variably shaped dark green glossy narrow leaves, with young leaves having dark stalk. Adult leaves often curved sideways, paler underneath and with 1-3 pits. It has small inconspicuous, unisexual, wind-pollinated flowers from July to November, but most from August to October, followed by fruit on female plants that are pale blue flecked with darker blue, occasionally yellow, or white flecked with blue, or overall dark blue, more or less translucent depending on the amount of dark pigment.

Phormium tenax, harakeke or flax is indigenous to New Zealand and Norfolk Island. A broad circumscription has been adopted here - many botanists feel that plants from the Chatham Islands could be distinguished at species rank from the mainland New Zealand species, other distinctive variants occur on the Three Kings and outer Hauraki Gulf Islands, and along the Kaikoura coast. Norfolk Island plants are uniformly different in subtle ways from the New Zealand forms of P. tenax. Further study into this variation is underway.
It is commonly found from lowland and coastal areas to montane forest, usually but not exclusively, in wetlands and in open ground along riversides. Very commonly cultivated throughout New Zealand and in many parts of the world. However, most cultivated material available is a mixture of hybrid, variegated and/or colour mutations. The actual wild forms of the species are now rarely available in garden centres and nurseries, apart from specialist Native plant nurseries. A rigid upright flax from 1-3m high, which produces bronzy red flowers on flower stalks up to 5 m high Nov to Jan. Will tolerate a wide range of growing situations, from swamp land to normal garden conditions. It is hardy to frosts, tolerant of coastal winds. Maori had numerous uses for the flax leave fibres from making clothing through to making baskets and rope. Maori have drawn the abundant nectar from the flowers as a general sweetener. Many medicinal uses makes the plant even more important to the everyday health of Maori. Boiled and crushed harakeke roots are applied externally as a poultice for boils, tumours and abscesses, as well as to varicose ulcers. Juice from the pounded roots can be generally used as a disinfectant, and taken internally to relieve constipation or expel worms. It has also been applied to bullet or bayonet wounds. The gum-like sap produced by harakeke contains enzymes that give it blood clotting and antiseptic qualities to help healing processes. Maori are fully aware of its curative properties and that it is a mild anaesthetic, and apply the sap to boils and various wounds, to aching teeth, to rheumatic and associated pains, ringworm and various skin irritations, and scalds and burns. Splints can be fashioned from korari (flower stalks) and leaves, and fine cords of muka fibre utilise the styptic properties of the gel before being used to stitch wounds. Harakeke leaves make excellent bandages and can secure broken bones much as plaster is used today. The pulp of pounded leaves can also be applied as dressings. Oil from New Zealand flax seed was first commercially produced in 1993 by the Waihi Bush organic farm in the South Island of New Zealand flax seed oil has high levels of Omega-3, and provides an alternative to taking fish oil. New oil blends with other ingredients are being researched and produced. Flax seed oil that can be bought in many countries (aka linseed oil) is extracted from the seeds of the European flax, a plant that belongs to a completely different plant family.

Plagianthus regius, manatu or ribbonwood is endemic to the North, South and Stewart Islands, and is found from Mangonui and Kaitaia southwards. It grows coastal to lower montane forest, often a prominent tree in lowland alluvial forest from sea-level to 450m asl, and can be rather local in its distribution. This small to large tree grows 6-9m tall, sometimes up to 15m with a trunk up to 1m through, is New Zealand's largest deciduous tree, and where space permits makes a very handsome specimen tree when mature. It has a densely divarcated juvenile stage that is well adapted to growing in exposed situations. Where other trees would bend due to prevailing winds, ribbonwoods grow straight and erect. It have very nice soft green leaves, and has very small flowers from October to January, that enmasse give the tree a rather attractive lime-green appearance.

Spinifex sericeus, kowhangatara, or silvery sand grass is indigenous, and is commonly found throughout New Zealand. It is also present in Australia. It is the most important native sand-binding grass in New Zealand, and favours dunes immediately behind the beach. It can tolerate high winds, salt spray and shifting sands. Its does not tolerate stable dune systems, and does not compete well with other introduced dune plants. The male and female flowers are produced from September to December on separate plants, and the distinctive spiky heads are produced by the female plant from November to May. Once autumn nears the spiky seed heads of Spinifex grass, powered by wind, roll along the beach until it gets trapped. Then the fine sand submerges the seed balls, which then releases its seeds to restart the cycle of growth and dispersion.  If the heads are trapped where they become saturated by the tide they break up and these bits are then carried to other suitable areas to germinate. The seeds grow into perennial grass that has greyish-green coloured leaves, covered with dense hairs that make them look silvery. It is a creeping and rooting grass up to 60cm tall with tufts of leaves arising from creeping undrground stems (rhizomes) that grow into multiple metres long runners with buds developing into new male and female plants that bloom during spring and early summer. It is very hardy, and is best grown in sand. This indigenous sand binding grass is an important place in giving some stability to foreshore dunes on windswept beaches and prevents dunes from moving inland. Dunes naturally take the role of shore protectors in both directions, from the incoming surf of the sea and filtering the water coming from wetlands that are close to the shore. The shorebirds like Caspian terns, the threatened dotterels, oystercatchers, gulls, insects and reptiles these dunes are their home and breeding ground.   

                                                                       

 Hoheria angustifolia, hungere, or narrow -leaved lacebark is endemic to the North and South Islands. In the North Island mainly easterly and only common in the southern half of the island. In northland it is known locally from the Wairoa River, and it has also been found sparingly in the Waikato near Waitomo. In the South Island widespread mainly east of the main divide in lowland and hilly forest from sea-level to 760m asl. This very distinctive slender tree up to 10m it has a juvenile form that is a mass of divaricating branches with a slightly weeping habit.  It is best grown in full sun, dry or wet, and exposed site, but is not particular of soil types and is frost hardy. Very fast growing and the diversity of foliage types exhibited by juvenile and adults can be very attractive. Due to its large size it is best for a big garden unless pruned regularly. It is smothered with clusters of pure white flowers in December-March, and few other hardy flowering trees can rival it. It can be grown in the shrub border but is seen to its best advantage as an isolated specimen. Although not threatened, in the northern North Island populations are small and few are on protected land. A popular host for the white mistletoe/taapia.