Three species of superficially similar white, saxicolous, verruciform, large-spored Pertusaria occurring in New Zealand are compared: Pertusaria knightiana Müll.Arg., Pertusaria otagoana D.J.Galloway and Pertusaria subverrucosa Nyl. Fresh and herbarium specimens were examined, their salient distinguishing features tabulated and illustrated, and significant extensions of geographical distribution recorded