Abstract Four biozones are proposed for the Te Kuiti Group (late Eocene‐Oligocene) in the Waikato Basin based on p&lynofloral changes recognised in a composite section from Rotowaro and Huntly. In ascending order the biozones are the Haloragacidites harrisii Zone, the Nothofagidites matawaensis Assemblage Zone (incorporating the Myrtaceidites Subzone alid the Araucariacites australis Subzone), and the Rubipollis dblatus Zone. Nothofagidites matawaensis is the most abundant palynomorph throughout, first appearing in the lower Waikato Coal Measures. Several palynomorphs become extinct near the Eocene/Oligocene boundary, where there appears to be a significant turnover in species, similar to that documented for the marine realm. The four biozones in the Te Kuiti Group can be recognised in palynofloras from localities in South Island, New Zealand. The Haloragacidites harrisii Zone is equivalent to the MH3 pollen zone defined from the West Coast region, and the two siibzones of the Nothofagidites matawaensis Assemblage Zone overlap with parts of several zones defined from Southland and the West Coast.