Eight benthic foraminiferal associations are recognised in Wanganui Bight and Queen Charlotte Sound, New Zealand, based on cluster analysis of census data from 52 sediment samples. Distribution of the four associations in Wanganui Bight correlates with increasing water depth:Elphidium charlottense/Haynesina depressula/ Patellinella inconspicuaassociation (17–27 m);Patellinella inconspicua/ Quinqueloculina suborbicularisassociation (20–42 m);Cassidulina carinata/Miliolinella subrotundataassociation (42–66 m); andCassidulina carinata/Bulimina submarginata(72–109 m). The four associations in Queen Charlotte Sound are:Quinqueloculina seminula/Elphidium advenum/Haynesina depressulain sandy shallows (0.5–7 m);Epistominella vitreal Haynesina depressulain shallows of the outer Sound (4–12 m);Elphidium vellai/Haynesina depressulain the mouth of the Sound (9–25 m); andNonionella flemingi/ Notorotalia finlayiin a muddy, sheltered basin (25–42 m). The most important physical factors influencing benthic foraminiferal distribution patterns in these two areas appear to be the characteristics of the water (e.g., temperature, turbidity, salinity) and factors that vary with water depth (e.g., wave and current energy, substrate, light penetration, food availability). Species diversity (α, H) and the relative abundance of planktic foraminiferal tests are mostly greater in the open sea conditions of Wanganui Bight than in Queen Charlotte Sound. In Wanganui Bight both generally increase with increasing depth, although there is a local diversity peak at 70–80 m depth.