Sacred tree of the Maoris
BOTANICAL NAME
Podocarpus totara
DISTRIBUTION
North Island and South Island, New Zealand.
OLDEST KNOWN LIVING SPECIMEN
The Pouakani tree, on North Island, is believed to be 1,800 years old, and is 3.8m (12.7ft) in diameter at breast height, 42.7m (140ft) tall.
RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE
Believed to have a spirit, and a common ancestry with the Maori people, and therefore to be an elder of living Maoris.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Classified on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 1998 as of ‘lower risk/least concern’. Many of the largest trees are now in protected areas. Trees occur widely across both North and South Islands.
A large totara growing in the Pureora Forest on North Island, New Zealand.
The totara (Podocarpus totara) is one of New Zealand’s most magnificent and culturally important trees, and once formed part of the huge forests that clothed both North and South Islands before the arrival of the first Europeans. Today it is still widely distributed across both islands, but in very much reduced numbers. One of the finest remnants of native forest on North Island is to be found in the Pureora Forest Reserve, which straddles the Hauhungaroa Range, west of Lake Taupo and east of Te Kuiti. Towering above the verdant tangle of mosses, ferns, small shrubs and epiphytic growth that form the understorey are some true forest giants, which include totara trees.
The Pouakani tree near the Pureora Forest reserve is 42.7m (140ft) tall and estimated to be around 1,800 years old.
The totara belongs to an extremely ancient tree family, the Podocarpaceae, which was thriving long before the islands that comprise New Zealand had separated from the continents of South Amer ica, Australasia, Africa and Asia around 150 million years ago. Fossil records show that in New Zealand, members of this family have remained virtually unchanged botanically over the past 70 million years.
The totara can attain a great age. One of the largest and oldest examples is the tree known as Pouakani, located on the western side of Pureora mountain. It has a diameter at breast height of 3.8m (12.7ft) and rises to a height of some 42.7m (140ft). By studying felled trees of a similar size whose growth rings have been counted, experts believe the tree to be around 1,800 years old. Investigation of ancient tree stumps has suggested that totaras are able to live to beyond 2,000 years old.
The totara is a tall, elegant tree with a straight, branch-free trunk for much of its height. It has a grey or reddish bark, which appears thick, stringy and furrowed. A conifer, the totara’s leaves and fruit resemble those of yew trees (Taxus species) since they have narrow, needle-like leaves accompanied by bright red fleshy fruits. There are separate male and female trees and, as they age, the foliage becomes increasingly sparse.
Today, the totara is regularly found growing in association with native rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum), matai (Prumnopitys taxifolia) and miro (Prumnopitys ferruginea) trees, especially on soils that are high in volcanic ash and therefore well drained. The remnants of the great podocarp forests support abundant bird life such as the kereru, tui, fantail, wax-eye and kaka. There are also populations of the rare New Zealand falcon, blue duck and North Island robin, and one of the largest remaining populations of the kokako.
A detail of the intricate totara carving that adorns the Waitangi Meeting House near Paihia.
Uses of the totara
Totara trees were the species most commonly used for timber by the Maori. The most important uses of the wood were for carvings and for making and decorating war and fishing canoes, and for the construction of domestic houses and marae, or ceremonial meeting houses. Strips of bark were also used to attach thatching to house frames. Totara is still used for Maori ceremonial objects and for making bowls and other items. The wood is relatively easy to work, but only small amounts of carving can be undertaken at any one time due to its tendency to split.
Totara forest at Arthur’s Pass, South Island. Totara trees occur on both North Island and South Island.
In some cases a man might repeat a charm over such a reserved tree in order to preserve it from the elements … lest it be destroyed by Tawhiri-matea [the Maori god of weather].
ELSDEN BEST, THE MAORI CANOE
Over the last 200 years, the native forests have largely been destroyed in North Island, first for timber for construction and shipbuilding and more recently to make way for commercial plantations. This practice continued until the 1970s, and had it not been for a series of tree-top protests in 1978, many of the most ancient totara trees and even more native podocarp forest would have been destroyed. One of the results of the protests and campaigning was the setting up of the Pureora Forest Reserve and the saving of the magnificent Pouakani tree.
Totara timber was greatly favoured by the Maori and used for a variety of purposes, from everyday house-building to ceremonial carvings. The Maori were extremely skilful when working with wood: an experienced carver or boat-builder could tell, simply by looking at a totara tree standing in the forest, whether it would be suitable for the purpose he had in mind. The totara was so highly prized that, when a good tree was located, the underbrush would be cleared in advance of its use, as a sign that it was already reserved. The tree might then be left to continue growing for many years before it was finally used.
Sometimes, when a suitable tree for canoe-building was found, a strip of bark was peeled off the trunk to induce the tree to rot, making the hollowing-out process much easier when the totara was eventually felled. Well-known individuals or groups of totaras were often given names. For example, the tree from which the famous ‘Takitimu’ canoe was carved was known as Te Puwenua.
Maori canoes were vitally important both for warfare and as a means of procuring food. The tree that was to become the hiwi, or hull, was selected from an area that was considered to have good omens. Special chants were used by the tohunga, or priest, to improve the good fortune of the finished boat. Specific trees were sometimes even the cause of warfare between two tribes. A special tree might also be left as an heirloom for a son or grandson.
This is the Maori story of what happened to Rata, who wanted to cut down a totara tree but had not asked permission from Tane Mahuta, Lord of the Forest.
Long ago, Rata was wandering sadly along the bank of a stream, thinking about his father, who had just died. ‘I must bring him home,’ thought Rata, ‘but how am I going to do that?’
He stared at the trees in the forest and said to himself, ‘I need a waka, a canoe big enough to hold many warriors.’
He walked through the forest looking for a suitable tree. ‘Miro … rimu … kahikatea … tanekaha … totara. Yes, totara it shall be.’
Early the next morning, Rata returned to the forest and chopped down the totara tree. The next day, when he returned, the tree trunk was no longer lying on the ground. Rata stared at the trees around him and, with a start, recognized the totara that he had felled: it was growing tall and proud again, as though it had never been touched. Rata was puzzled and a little fearful. He took up his axe and began to chop down the totara tree again. The following morning he found it again standing tall and silent. For a third time Rata chopped it down. He shaped it and began to scoop out the inside. When night fell, he left the half-formed canoe and went home.
Later that night, he took down his fighting spear and quietly stole back to the forest. As he approached, he could hear strange singing and see light shining through the trees. He held his breath and crept closer. Then he stared in amazement. Birds were scurrying backwards and forwards, carrying leaves and twigs in their beaks. Thousands of insects were swarming all over the log, replacing chips and filling up the hollow. As he watched, the half-formed canoe disappeared and was replaced by a smooth trunk that glowed red in the light.
Rata could not bear to be hidden any longer. He stood up and stepped into the light. At once the singing stopped and the light went out. Rata was alone. ‘Come back’, he whispered. ‘I am sorry I cut down the totara tree. Please forgive me. I did not mean to harm it. I just wanted to build a canoe in order to fetch my father.’
He began to lift the heavy trunk. Then all at once he felt it move, turn slowly, lift off the ground and settle on the stump from which he had cut it. Rata put his arms around the tree. As he held on to it, he felt thousands of little legs running over his body and on to the tree trunk. But when the dawn came, Rata was alone. The totara was whole once more. ‘I shall never cut down another tree again’, vowed Rata.
‘You may,’ said a voice close to him, ‘but you must ask Tane Mahuta, god of the forest and birds, for permission. He created all these trees and birds for Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother. Ask him when you want to use any of it.’
Rata turned to see who was speaking. There was no one beside him. As he prepared to leave, his heart leapt as he saw a war canoe. ‘Mine?’ he whispered.
‘Yes,’ replied the voice, ‘Rata’s waka.’
The totara’s narrow, needle-like leaves resemble those of yew trees.
