New Zealand Forest - New Zealand TreesNew Zealand trees in New Zealand forest covered back in the 1800s about 70 per cent of the North and South Island of those are 29% remaining today. The widest part is governed by the Department of Conservation. Privately owned areas have to follow strict laws to grant sustainable management. Extensive timber milling activities between 1859 and 1925 took place by early settlers for timber trading and farming purposes. Of this historical relics are present to this day at Whatipu, Karekare, and Piha Valley along the Tasman coast as part of the 16,000 ha park land in the Waitakere Ranges. New Zealand is valued for its richness on flora and fauna solely existing here, and West Auckland is home to many of them. Awareness to this circumstance brings council and communities together to form strategies to protect and maintain New Zealand’s biodiversity. These native trees are often seen on hiking vacations. 
Kauri treeThe native Kauri trees grow in New Zealand’s Northland up to Coromandel. A forest is called Kauri forest even though they don’t exceed on numbers. They belong to the most ancient trees in the world. With a lifetime of more than 2000 years and a hight up to 50 metres they tower above the forests’ main canopy. You will find the oldest standing tree in West Auckland in the Cascade Kauri. The mighty trees were milled for their excellent hard, straight and long wood. 
Pohutukawa TreeThis tree is often named the New Zealand Christmas tree. Home to the coast with gnarled trunks its roots cling to crumbling cliffs. Bright red blooms coat it from November to January the summer season. This is reason enough to become a motif on Christmas cards, and inspire paintings of many artists. When only mentioned this native plant triggers summer memories in young and old. Children climb and swing families gather underneath to picnic or enjoy the shade given by its spreading branches. Return to top of New Zealand trees 
Nikau palmThe native Nikau palm stands model for many artists. Maoris used them interwoven as roofing material. It is the palm specie that is found the furthest south. Slow but easy growing it reaches about 10-15 metres in hight. From November to April it is flowering in lilac. By November the fruits are ripe and their colour changes orange to red. The fruits are part of the Wood Pigeon’s diet. So you might see both of them. A good place to see is at Piha Marawhara Walk and Nikau Grove Walk or at Whatipu the Kura Track. 
Cabbage tree – Ti KoukaNew Zealand walking near water, swamps and in forest margins leads often past the widely spread Cabbage tree. Their total hight becomes 10 to 15 metres. White fragrant flowers are seen in spring to summer. Captain Cook and his crew named this tree after the taste of its shoots. Their high carbohydrate made it part of Maori and early settler’s diet. Maoris used these hard wearing leaves for weaving clothes, shoes and fishing utensils. Return to top of New Zealand trees 
Tree FernWest Auckland’s regenerating New Zealand forest is home to more than 100 different ferns. As a dominating feature they represent 60 % of species known in New Zealand. No wonder that the silver fern was taken as an emblem for the national rugby team the All Blacks. Further the top netball team derived its name from the silver fern. In various other occasions the fern became part of logos. The fern inspired the Maori symbol koru and with this many unique gift ideas. The unfurling fern frond in its stylized form is the foundation and carries the values of new beginning, growth and balance. 
Kowhai treeHome to all New Zealand forest with three species varying hight and leave size it blooms in a brilliant yellow. This is responsible to the Maori naming kowhai what translated means the colour yellow. Blooming time is at the end of winter to the beginning of spring from around September/ October. The yellow blossoms are magnets to bellbirds and tuis. These are widely admired for their vivid songs. A good place to listen is the Kura Track starting at Whatipu. Return to top of New Zealand trees Here are more tree pictures from New Zealand.
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