CONCLUSION

A diverse range of leaf cuticle is present in a wide range of localities in the Early Miocene of southern New Zealand, ranging from the inland to coastal sites. The taxa described include families still present in New Zealand today, as well as some which are now locally extinct, and some which are now restricted to New Caledonia. A large proportion cannot yet be placed into the Linnean hierarchy with any confidence, but will be useful in stratigraphic and fine-scale differentiation of vegetation and habitat types, as well as providing useful information on biodiversity and climate. In this way cuticle parataxa will compliment the palynological record as additional taxa to help refine relative ages and distinguish assemblages.

The fossils also have implications for biogeography. The new family and generic records provide interesting range-extensions to be explained. In particular they add to the growing evidence of a link between New Zealand's past vegetation and the extant vegetation of New Caledonia. They also add to the established knowledge of a warmer than present Early Miocene, and will help elucidate the specific details of this climate.