The Kauri Tree - God of the Forests
To tree Loving New Zealanders, and there are thousands of us, Kauri means Northland, and vice versa. These great forest emperors, in their pride, symbolise our land as it was before men came here; the ruthless exploitation of their timber by the white man warns us, members of a later generation, to protect our remaining natural treasure.
The botanical name of the kauri is Agathis australis. The Maori name for this particular specimen (Tane Mahuta) means "the god of the forest", and it stands in the Waipoua Forest Reserve; it is indeed one of the finest remaining giants of the kauri forests of Northland. The Waipoua Forest is close to the west coast of Northland, and is a reserve whose preservation is protected by law. Spars of tall slender trees were sought by early ships visiting the shores of northern New Zealand and were among our first, if not our very first, exports. Much good timber was wasted in the later days in the course of clearing land for agriculture. Some were used for such mundane purposes as fencing-posts, but much was used for building houses in various parts of the country, many of which still stand in splendid condition. The timber is exceptionally fine in the grain, easily worked, and useful in cabinetmaking; but today, alas, it has a scarcity value. The gum with which the soils of Northland were impregnated, was once a valuable item of trade-it was used in varnishes-and gum-digging once provided occupation for hundreds of settlers.
The soils on which the forests thrived is not naturally very fertile, and land from which the gum had been extracted proved somewhat intractable; but soil conditions have been ameliorated with the aid of fertilisers and modern technology. The natural habitat of the giant trees, was the area north of a line running approximately from Kawhia to Tauranga, but specimens for ornamental and other purposes can be grown successfully in almost any part of the North Island, and even further afield, where the climate is not too severe.
Recommened Carving Products
Shop New Zealand offers an extensive range of New Zealand made handcrafted from the native Kauri trees. Maori used their timber for Maori Carving, boat building and housing and their gum for starting fires and chewing (after it had been soaked in water and mixed with the milk of the Puha plant). This ancient tree has a beautiful and distinctive grain. When polished, the wood is a deep golden colour with hues, textures and sheens that change under differing shades of light. For more information, please check out Recommended Books
Kauri: Witness to a Nation's History One of the largest trees in the world, the kauri is a natural wonder and a New Zealand icon. Its immense trunk has supplied timber for every conceivable use from Maori war canoes to modern European homes. Along the way, the industries that sprang up around it shaped national culture in ways that still echo today. Get it from Fishpond New Zealand or Amazon Customer Review from Fishpond 5 stars rated: Bought this for my man and he thoroughly enjoyed this and still is...definitely for all genders though. Well written, very informative and well researched. Certainly makes one realise that we have a much easier life, these days, in many ways. Makes me proud of being a New Zealander and acknowledging that we come from hardy stock.
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