A nutrient analysis was carried out of leaves and litter of Nothofagus fusca (red beech), N. menziesii (silver beech), and N. solandri var . cliffortioides (mountein beech). The nutrients assayed were nitrogen, potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium. Although the small number of replicates did not allow Statistical Validation of the results, some trends could be seen. In general Nothofagus fusca had a higher mineral content, and N. solandri var. cliffortioides a lower nutrient content, than N. menziesii. Within a species, nutrient loss during leaf fall and decomposition, as a percentage of dry weight, varied between nutrients according to their solubility and their use by micro-organisms. Potassium, which is quite soluble, was lost rapidly, whereas calcium and magnesium, which are less soluble, were lost slowly. Sodium was always at a low level. Nitrogen initially was lost very rapidly but rose in concentration in later stages of decomposition. This was attributed to its incorporation into micro-organisms and humic structures.