Mt Moehau at the northern tip of the Coromandel is the highest point in the northern North Island and its sub-alpine scrub is home to several different animal species found nowhere else except this mountaintop, including the Moehau stag beetle.
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Archey's Frog, D Veitch
The mountain also hosts rare Hochstetter’s and Archey’s frogs.
As temperatures increase because of climate change Mt Moehau’s sub-alpine scrub is likely to disappear as the forest line rises. Throughout New Zealand many sub-alpine and alpine habitats will be inundated by vegetation previously found at lower altitudes – much like an island being submerged by rising sea levels.
This means that unique species now found in our alpine areas may no longer survive.
Mt Moehau is not the only alpine area affected – the same scenario may occur all over New Zealand as our alpine zones and their unique wildlife are forced up and out.
