Sophora chathamica, Chatham Island kowhai or coastal kowhai is endemic to the North, South and Chatham Islands. It is probably only indigenous to the northern half of the North Island, where it is common in the west from the Tongaporutu River to Te Paki. In the east it is abundant south to about Thames, so far it has not been reported south and east of there. Very common around Auckland, the Hauraki Gulf and from Port Waikato south to Kawhia. There are some inland occurrences in the lower Waikato Basin. Disjunct occurrences around Wellington, the Chatham Islands and Whanganui Inlet may result from deliberate plantings by the Maori. A tree that grows up to 20 m tall, with one or more trunks with spreading to upright, sometimes hairy branches, with juveniles weakly twisted in shape and moderately to densely leafy. It is primarily a species of coastal forest, often on cliff faces or banks overlooking estuarine rivers or inlets, but also occasionally it is found in swamp forest. It has bright yellow flowers from August to November followed by seed pods from October to September. Plant in full sun or semi shade in any reasonable conditions with good drainage, do not like a water logged soil in winter. The main threat that faces all wild New Zealand kowhai species is the risk posed through planting for revegetation and horticultural purposes of hybrid material, foreign species, such as the Chilean Pelu (S. cassioides) and also of kowhai species outside their natural range.