Tane Mahuta

Wow!  What a blowy, rainy night it was last night!  Evidence of tree damage has been everywhere I've driven today.  Thankfully, I have been on the west coast - the east coast has fared far worse I believe - a month's rain in 24 hours in some places.

Dropped in to see Tane Mahuta in the Waipou forest.  According to the Department of Conservation:

Tane Mahuta ('Lord of the Forest') is New Zealand’s largest known living kauri tree. It is thought this tree was discovered and identified in the 1920s when contracted surveyors surveyed the present SH12 through the forest. In 1928, Nicholas Yakas and other bushmen, who were building the road, also identified the big tree Tane Mahuta.
According to Maori mythology Tane is the son of Ranginui the sky father and Papatuanuku the earth mother. Tane was the child that tore his parents' parental embrace and once done set about clothing his mother in the forest we have here today.  All living creatures of the forest are regarded as Tane’s children.
Measurements:
Trunk girth: 13.77 m
Trunk height: 17.68 m
Total height: 51.2 m
Trunk volume: 244.5 m³

He's an impressive tree........the largest living kauri tree in New Zealand and whilst it is difficult to accurately age him, it is belived he could be between 1,250 and 2,500 years old.


Yes - they are people dressed in rain gear standing in front of him.


Even as I was leaving the short walk to see him, the ravages of the winds continued.  A loud crack had several of us stop suddenly, then head out to the road (about 5m away) where we thought there had been a crash.  Not so.  Instead, a nikau palm had been snapped and had fallen over onto the road.  Fortunately, no-one was parked where it fell, but with no cell phone coverage in this area the DoC worker on hand had to drive to the nearest DoC place to get equipment to move it and make the road safe again.  


I feel my explorations of Northland are all but through.  Staying tonight at a beautiful spot south of Dargaville overlooking the Kaipara Harbour.  It's still a bit wet but thankfully, the wind has died down.  Auckland tomorrow then a gradual mosey south to the ferry in Wellington on Wednesday.