Nīkau Bush Conservation Area is a protected area of of remnant lowland broadleaved forest in the Chatham Islands of New Zealand. The reserve is located on Chatham Island immediately to the west of Te Whanga Lagoon around north of Waitangi, and contains the largest group of nīkau ('Rhopalostylis sapida 'Chathamica') on Chatham Island.
In 1971, the area was identified as a priority for the establishment of a reserve in a report by the Botany Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. A summary of the examples of mixed broadleaf forest in the Chatham Islands stated:
The land was purchased by the Crown in 1981, and stock fencing was installed to allow regeneration to occur. The reserve has an upper and lower area of original forest with plantings of Veronica barkeri, rautini (Brachyglottis huntii), swamp akeake (Olearia telmatica), Chatham Island toetoe (Austroderia turbaria) and Chatham Island astelia (Astelia chathamica).
The Chatham Islands nīkau found in the reserve is closely similar to the mainland New Zealand species but with a distinct juvenile form, larger fruits, and thicker covering of hairs on the fronds. The nīkau flower in December and January.
There is a walking track through the reserve that is promoted as a visitor attraction.
In 2023, the Nīkau Bush Conservation Area was included in an assessment of possible sites for future translocation of the endangered Chatham Island black robin. However, the site was not forecast to be sufficiently productive to sustain a population of the black robin, and was not selected for further study.
Notes
References
External links
Plant checklist for Nikau Bush, Chatham Island