Appendix Two Nationally important geological features: Matarau Point beach ridge gravel foreland, Greville Harbour boulder spit; serpentinitic breccias along parts of western coast. Regionally important landforms: Pakiaka Point barrier island and lagoon; the Greville Harbour barrier dune system, and associated lagoon and swamp; French Pass partly submerged ridgeline and reef; Whangarae and D’Urville Island limestone outcrops. Naturally prone to slips and earthflows due to predisposition of ultramafic geology to structural failure. Coastal lagoons characteristic and regionally rare. Valley floors and stream flood plain/debris. Low gradient streams with good pool-riffle structures. 2. Climate and Elevation Climate moist to wet; warm temperate. Moderately low to high rainfall: 1100-2000 mm. Lowest at northern end of island. Occasional high intensity rainfall events. Highly maritime - largely surrounded by sea. Many places frost-free. Salt spray a major coastal influence. Generally exposed and windy; severe gales and storms occasional. Harbours and estuaries relatively sheltered. Moderate elevation: 0-856 m altitude range; mean altitude 250m. 3. Water Large, permanent-flowing streams with stable substrate. Excellent water quality with stream headwaters often draining from native forest. B. The Biological Environment [Part of D’Urville and Sounds ecological districts] Total area of D’Urville Ecosystem is 25,960 ha, of which 49% is native forest, 30% is shrubland (both exotic and native), 7% is pasture and non-woody native vegetation and 5% is plantation forestry. (Note: Percentages based on interpretation of 1990 satellite images.) 1. Predominant Indigenous Vegetation Detailed in Table 2 Originally the area was predominantly indigenous forest. App Two - 17