Kahikatea is NZ's tallest native tree reaching over 65m. 

There are few old-growth kahikatea forests left, more than 98 of percent kahikatea forest has been lost nationwide.

​

It is a member of the podocarp family with cousins including: rimu, totara, miro and matai. These are ancient trees with lineage dating back hundreds of million years.

​

Podocarps takes their name from the fleshy footed seeds they produce. These "fruits" are an important food source for native birds such as  kereru and tui.

​

Today most kahikatea stands are relatively young forest fragments, about 80-100 years old. These fragments have grown up around a few old trees left standing after most of the original forest was cleared for farming. These massive trees, with trunks occasionally over 2 m across, are about 400-500 years old.

​

Kahikatea forest fragments are special places with special needs. Only 15% of the kahikatea fragments are legally protected, and only half of them are fully fenced off from stock.

​

Without help, the health of our kahikatea stands will gradually decline and the trees will eventually die.

​