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A 5-year litterbag study examined decomposition rates at four sites representing restiad peatland succession in Waikato, New Zealand. Early successional sites were dominated by Baumea rubiginosa, or Leptospermum scoparium, mid-successional by Empodisma robustum, and late successional by Sporadanthus ferrugineus. Leaf/culm materials from these species were placed on the surface, and roots of Empodisma and Sporadanthus buried at depths of 5, 25, and 55 cm to test the influence of succession on species and site decomposition rates. Typha latifolia leaves from a Canadian bog were placed at the surface and three depths to allow comparisons with northern peatlands. Litterbags were retrieved after 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years, and mass remaining characterized by an exponential model k value. Surface litter k values (0.12–0.80 y⁻¹) decreased from early to late successional species; however …