Hinau / Elaeocarpus hookerianus.

These are the flowers of the Hinau tree. A native evergreen tree of New Zealand which grows to 15 – 18 m in height. The leaves are described as leathery, and are quite serrated on the edges. The dainty, cream coloured, cup shaped flowers are about 8 – 12m, and grow in clusters on the branches. They have just started flowering and can flower up until March. The Hinau trees are found in lowland forests from North Cape to almost the bottom of the South Island. We found a small one when we first built the house, and it is now about 8 m high.