Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Monocots
(Unranked): Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Cyperaceous
Genus: Carex
Species: C. tenuiculmis
Binomial name: Carex tenuiculmis
Synonym: Carex secta var. tenuiculmis
Common names: Slender Niggerhead, Thin calm red sedge, Red leaved sedge.

Carex tenuiculmis is a reddish brown tussock native sedge that is naturally found in the South Island, Stewart Island and the Chatham Island and Pitt Islands. It is now commonly used throughout New Zealand in amenity plantings. Its natural habit is wetland margins.
Though it does best in a sunny, permanently damp situation it can tolerant extremely dry conditions, although, ultimately in these locations, it will not flourish. It can grow to a height of 1m with a spread of 1.5 m but  usually has a medium-sized (40cm x 50cm)

For more information visit:  http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.asp? ID=238

Photographed at Otari Native Botanic Garden and Wilton's Bush Reserve. Wellington. 
Carex tenuiculmis Slender Niggerhead Thin calm red sedge-002.JPG

Carex tenuiculmis Red-leaved Sedge-001.JPG

Carex tenuiculmis Slender Niggerhead Thin calm red sedge.JPG

Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0