A Holocene pollen and sediment record of Whangape Harbour, far northern New Zealand

The sediment record of Whangape Harbour shows that there were significant f luctuations in depositional energy in the harbour during the period from c. >8000 cal. yr B.P. to some time within the last millenium, and that fluvia l influences increased as the harbour infilled. The pollen record (highly d iscontinuous) from Whangape Harbour indicates that conifer-hardwood forest covered the hills surrounding the harbour during this period. The main cano py conifers were Dacrydium and Prumnopitys taxifolia, with some Libocedrus, Dacrycarpus, and Phyllocladus. Agathis was also present. Common canopy har dwoods were Metrosideros and, in the latter part of the period, Elaeocarpus . Ascarina and Cyathea were abundant in the sub-canopy. Leptospermum grew o n disturbed areas fringing the estuary. Marsh or swamp environments probabl y never developed on a large scale in the harbour. Avicennia, extremely und er-represented in the pollen flora, has been present on tidal flats in the harbour since at least c. 2500 cal. yr B.P. Large-scale anthropogenic defor estation by burning commenced in the Whangape catchment some time during or since 700-430 cal. yr B.P. The associated increase in erosion rates in the catchment resulted in a change towards a sandier sediment regime in the ha rbour which has continued to the present day. Weinmannia and Ackama, previo usly rare in the catchment, expanded in remaining forest.