Recent work which genotypically characterised rhizobia of native, crop and weed legumes in New Zealand and examined their cross-nodulation ability is reviewed and related to earlier work with focus on New Zealand pasture systems. The New Zealand native legumes were exclusively effectively nodulated by novel strains of Mesorhizobium which did not nodulate crop or weed legumes. Clovers, lucerne, Lotus and grain legumes were effectively nodulated by different genera, species and biovars of rhizobia primarily originating from inoculum. Rhizobial symbionts of white clover have established over wide areas in New Zealand. Weed legumes are effectively nodulated by different genera/species of rhizobia depending on species. Bradyrhizobia that cross-nodulate lupins, gorse, European broom and tagasaste are widespread in New Zealand