The density and species composition of ground-dwelling spiders were assessed using suction sampling from August 1994 to July 1995 at various distances from a field edge into a single grazed pasture, and from March 1996 to March 1997 in the same and three additional grazed pastures and adjacent fenced shelterbelts on the Canterbury Plains, New Zealand. Spider density declined rapidly with distance from the shelterbelt (mean 241 m -2 ) into the pasture (means 72.5 m -2 at 2.5 m, and 10.3 m -2 at 5 m). Mean spider densities in the four pastures were 53.0 m -2 while in the shelterbelts they reached 316 m -2 . The fauna in both habitats was dominated by the European linyphiid, Tenuiphantes tenuis (Blackwall). An unidentified theridiid was common only in the shelterbelt, while unidentified immature linyphiids and theridiids were common in both habitats. Of the c. 28 species collected, 25 were found in shelterbelts, and 13 in pasture. Thirteen endemic, one native, and one introduced species were found only in shelterbelts, while from pasture all but two endemic species were also recognised from shelterbelts. There was little evidence that the shelterbelts acted as refuges for spiders which could subsequently disperse to the adjacent paddocks.