Where found:

• Lower montane forest and scrub, very common in lower montane forest on Mt Taranaki/Egmont
  
• Up to 1200 metres
  

• Usually a shrub up to 2.5 metres tall or a small tree up to 10metres, spreading branches
  
• Leaves (20-80 mm x 10-30 mm) are leathery and dull, yellow brown on top, bluish green underneath with red edges and blotches, they are aromatic and spicy/peppery when crushed
  
• Small flowers (10-15 mm) singly or in clusters along the stem
  
• Small berries (3-5mm) are deep reddish black
  
• Bark dark greenish grey often with black fungus
  
• Unpalatable to goats and possums