Quite Possibly our Most Favourite Tree…
We love Tōtara. They’re a beautiful, hardy tree. They provide great shelter and shade for animals (we’re lucky to have several lovely specimens in our paddocks), and their seeds provide food for Kereru, Tui and Bellbirds. They also hedge well, making them useful in larger suburban sections.
Held in special regard by Māori, the timber’s durable, rot resistance and straight grain makes them ideal for making waka. The timber was also used for housing, tools, food preserving storage containers. A powerful tool in Rongoā Māori (healing), it’s antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it useful in treating a wide array of ailments.
