A landscape of volcanic and sedimentary geology, encompassing three ecological districts:

The Ranginui district features the Rangitoto Range and its indigenous podocarp-hardwood forests, which provide critical habitat for forest birds. The Pureora district is defined by its ignimbrite plateaus and volcanoes, home to dense podocarp forests that are a stronghold

for threatened species like the lesser short-tailed bat. The Tokoroa district includes the

Mamaku Plateau, but much of its original forest has been logged and converted to exotic

pine plantations and farms.