Taurepo is endemic shrub and is found in North Island coastal to lowland forests, near streams, on rocky slopes and clinging to cliff faces.

Taurepo, also known as taurepo, kaikaiatua, mata, matata, waiuatua and New Zealand gloxinia, is a bushy shrub that grows up to 2m tall with many thin twigs bearing rounded thin leaves that are sparsely stiff-haired and with a toothed edge. 

Flowering throughout the year, but most vivid in October and February, taurepo has trumpet-like red-streaked yellow bright flowers. The open-ended trumpet shaped flowers are specifically adapted for pollination by the long-tapered beaks of Aotearoa’s honeyeaters, the hihi (stitchbird), tieke (saddleback), bellbird and tūī.