Of the billions of trees in New Zealand, Tāne Mahuta is the most important.
When you first see Tāne Mahuta, you understand why you came all this way.
For a tree to be called Lord of the Forest, it’s got to be big, and Tāne Mahuta perfectly fits its moniker. New Zealand’s largest kauri tree stands at over 52 metres tall, with a trunk girth of over 14 metres. Tree huggers need some collective efforts to get their arms around this guy…
However, Tāne Mahuta is so much more than the statistics of its size – its position within Maori mythology and culture and the scared atmosphere of its presence are deeply felt by visitors, both locals and tourists.
The son of Earth and Sky
Tāne Mahuta’s parents are Ranginui (sky father) and Papatūānuku (earth mother) whose love was so strong their close embrace kept the world in darkness. Along with his siblings, Tāne became frustrated, so using his great strength he pushed them apart creating the world as we know it, and then clothed his mother with forest.
Many express a feeling of spirituality around Tāne Mahuta
While it’s one thing to explain the importance of a tree by its height and the space it takes up in the forest, it’s another to experience the sensation of contact with this ancient giant. I saw a woman crying at the foot of Tāne Mahuta. She told me it had been over 40 years since her father brought her as a young girl to see the giant kauri and the memory of that day overwhelmed her. I stood back, feeling a little guilty that I had so casually asked what brought on the tears. Others soon followed into the small clearing – some stood perfectly still; others furiously snapped selfies that could never do justice to where they stood. Others chose to sit and think about where they were and the presence of the tree.
It’s natural to feel deep satisfaction from the transcendental force around Tāne Mahuta. The mythology, the atmosphere within the stunningly beautiful Waipoua Forest and your own emotions are tested in front of a living treasure that is thousands of years old.
Tāne Mahuta is under attack by Kauri dieback disease
Kauri dieback is a disease affecting the kauri of New Zealand and is caused by a microscopic fungus-like organism. It infects the roots and destroys any kauri that is exposed. As it lives in the soil, it can only be spread by humans and animals, which is why cleaning the soles of shoes whenever entering or departing any of New Zealand’s native forests and always remaining on tracks is crucial to the survival of the unique flora and fauna of this beautiful country.
