Te whakatō tupu hei whakarākei i te kanorau-koiora taketake
Planting to enhance native biodiversity
Planting appropriate and locally sourced native plants is great for biodiversity and the environment.
Whether you are planting in your own urban backyard or working on an ecosystem restoration project, you can plant to enhance native biodiversity.
Before planting, you should:
- create a plan
- select ecosourced plants, that naturally occur in the region and are suited to the environmental conditions
- consider fencing and pest control options
- check for wāhi tapu (sacred places) and other cultural heritage sites
- prepare the site to give you plants the best chance of surviving.
Once established, make sure sites have adequate protection from human traffic, grazing stock, pest animals and re-invading pest plants.
Check out our Guide to enhancing backyard biodiversity.
Get guidance on restoration planning.
For controlling pest plants before you plant natives, see Pest plants and management.
For controlling animal pest browsers in your planting area, see Pest animals and management
Start with these resources
Native forest restoration guide
A basic guide and introduction to replanting an area of native forest.
Caring for forest fragments
Find out why protecting Auckland's forest ecosystems is so important. The resource also contains information on enhancement planting.
How to plant
An Auckland Botanic Gardens guide to sowing seeds, planting seedlings, perennials and trees successfully.
Heritage and cultural protection guide
DOC advice on what to do if your restoration project uncovers a site or items of cultural significance.
He Kākano Seed Collecting Guide
This resource aims to assist schools and communities in collecting their own seeds for community nurseries. It is a collaboration between Whitebait Connection and Te Aho Tū Roa.
Plant with locally sourced plants
Advice from Auckland Council on ecosourcing and where to get locally sourced plants.
Planting and restoration guides
Native plants for Auckland gardens
An Auckland Botanic Gardens digital guide to planting in Auckland gardens. Some of the plants listed here might not be appropriate for landscape or ecosystem restoration.
The mānuka and kānuka plantation guide
A guide to planting mānuka and kānuka for reversion to native bush, honey and oil production.
Find out how good site preparation will make planting easier and increase planting success.
Information about protecting wāhi tapu (sacred places) and other Māori cultural heritage. What to look out for when planting or restoring an area.
Coastal ecosystems planting guides
Read about supporting and restoring coastal ecosystems. See how planting guides for coastal cliff, dune, wetland and forest ecosystems.
Foredune and backdune species for dune planting
Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand's guide to dune plant species.
New Zealand constructed wetland planting guidelines
A NIWA guide to what to plant in constructed wetlands.
Plant to support lizards
Identify lizards in your backyard and learn what plants are needed to support them.
Plant Me Instead
Learn about what to plant in your garden instead of ornamental plants that can escape and damage our natural areas.
Fencing your area
Fencing to exclude stock and wild animals
How to keep stock and wild animals, like deer and goats, out of your bush block, dune or wetland.
Stock Exclusion Costs Report
A report on the cost of stock exclusion from waterways for protection purposes.
Introduction to plant life in New Zealand
NZPCN Plant Conservation Training Module 1 emphasises the importance of plant conservation in Aotearoa / New Zealand. It also provides an introduction to plant communities and an overview of plant physiology.