[1] It is endemic to the North Cape area of New Zealand, in particular Te Paki and the Karikari Peninsula.

Clitarchus tepaki is a medium-sized, moderately robust and wingless stick insect with a green to mottled brown and grey body, sometimes with tubercles on its dorsal side.

[2] This stick insect has been found in just two localities: the Te Paki or North Cape area, and the volcanic uplands of Paraawanui in the Karikari Peninsula.

Both these areas were isolated from the rest of New Zealand during the Pliocene, and are home to several endemic species.

[2] • List of stick insects of New Zealand Data related to Clitarchus tepaki at Wikispecies