Pannaria microphyllizans, a previously misunderstood species, is shown here to have gibbose perispores with long-tailed apical extensions, and to lack TLC-detectable chemistry. It is related to P. athroophylla, a species with different phyllidia, a chemistry of isovicanicin and leprolomin, and spores of the same type but differing in several details. The latter has been too widely interpreted in New Zealand, because there are two more previously undescribed phyllidiate taxa. Pannaria wrightiorum contains vicanicin, leprolomin and scabrosin esters, has short phyllidia and characteristic spore details. Pannaria kantvilasii has the same chemistry, but distinctly different spores, revealing a position within the P. leproloma group. Pannaria cassa, a third new species described here, is primarily fertile and is related to P. microphyllizans, having the same chemistry and spore type. Apart from P. kantvilasii, the taxa dealt with here belong to the same group within Pannaria as the South American P. patagonica. The phyllidiate species in the group develop characteristic prothalli that recruit lichenized thallus fragments. The species dealt with here are probably widespread in New Zealand, although their distributions are insufficiently known. Pannaria wrightiorum is strikingly common on Campbell Island, and P. kantvilasii also occurs in Tasmania.