Kauri
Family: Araucariaceae Genus: Aghatis
Australis
| Picture:
Wairere Boulders by D.L. Mundy (1873) Auckland Museum |
Kauri is one of the world's largest trees. Native to Northern New Zealand, it produces an excellent quality of timber and also gum that can be used by industry.
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| Photo: Piece of Kauri Gum that was one of the
biggest exports in the past. |
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| Picture: Bark of Kauri with formation of gum drip. |
The Kauris still standing in the Valley are up to 500 years old.
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Picture: Group of young Kauri growing at Wairere Boulders |
Younger Kauri grow longer leaves than older Kauri, due to the darkness close to the forest floor. The leaves are about 50% to 100% longer than the leaves of the big Kauri.
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Kauri leaves which are 1000 % longer than the fully grown Kauri in New Zealand. |
 The
Kauri belongs to the "conifers".
Photo on left: Female cones close to maturity |
Kauri are the Icon of the East Coast of Northland
Bigger stands than at Wairere Boulders can be found at the Waipoua Forest, Omahuta Forest, Warawara Forest and Puketi Forest
Waipoua Forest
Between Aranga and Waimamaku, on highway 12, this forest contains three quarters of New Zealand's remaining kauri trees. Within the forest's 2,500 hectares, there are a number of walking and tramping tracks.
Photo: This is Te Matua Ngahere,
Father of the Forest
This is Tanemahuta, for details visit Hokianga Tourism