CONCLUSION

These fossils add to the known Miocene biodiversity of New Zealand. They complement the macrofossil and palynological record for monocots, and indicate that extinct Pandanaceae and Arecaceae were present in the Miocene. It is notable that apart from Rhipogonum, the prominent extant monocots of New Zealand have not yet been found in Early Miocene deposits. This may reflect some sort of taphonomic bias, although Phormium tenax cuticle is present in Rangitawa Valley and cuticle very similar to CUT-Mo-EFE is at Hamilton's Gap, both being mid-Pleistocene deposits in the North Island.