New Zealand soils in a nutshell

A quick summary of the nature and properties of soils appearing in the New Zealand landscape of today.

One of the key characteristics of soils in the landscape is their diversity. The nature and properties of New Zealand soils change in space and over time. Sometimes it can be surprising to see the differences in soils that are only a few metres apart! In our section on 'How do soils form?' you can read about the various soil forming factors that are behind these differences. What can we do to get on top of this amazing variety of soil types?

First of all it is important to realise that – unlike plants and animals – soils form a continuum, meaning that soil changes in the landscape are gradual. And whereas you can easily identify a southern brown kiwi or a red beech tree, soils are not nearly as clearly distinguishable. Instead we use observable and measurable soil properties to distinguish the various soils and group them into different classes.

The New Zealand Soil Classification (NZSC) is our current system to name and classify soils across the country. It helps us to conceptualise what we find, and to communicate about a particular soil and its properties. At its highest levels the NZSC has 15 so-called ‘soil orders’. These are groups of soils, each with a similar appearance, formation, or behaviour.