Information for Juniors

Totara

  • NZ Totaras can live close to 1,000 years
  • Mature Totara trees grow to 30m
  • The trunks diameter up to 2.5m
  • Found throughout the North Island lowlands
  • Totaras are slow growing, producing hard timber

Bark & Foliage

  • The bark tends to form into long strips, reddish grey and stringy
  • The leaves are strong, narrow, waxy, growing to a sharp pointed tip

Flowers and Fruit

  • There are male and female trees
  • The seeds mature in autumn
  • The female produces seed cones
  • The cones hold 3 seed pods, which become red flowers in spring
  • The Male tree sheds pollen in late spring which pollenate the red flowers
  • The seeds are dispersed by birds in their droppings

Interesting Facts

  • The wood is hard, straight grained and resistant to rotting
  • Used in fence posts, floor pilings and railway sleepers
  • The Maori love Totara and prize it for its carving properties and for their Waka
  • Totara grows easily from seeds and cuttings
  • The trees can survive alone on farms and will not be touched by cattle or sheep who dislike its smell

Information for Junior Secondary

Totara

  • The lowland Totara is the largest of all Totara varieties
  • It also lasts close to 1,000 years old
  • The average size of a mature tree is 25-30m with a diameter of 2-2.5m
  • Found throughout NZ mostly in coastal lowland forest areas, predominantly is the volcanic plateau of the North Island
  • The seeds are dispersed by birds in their droppings
  • Totaras are slow growing, producing hard timber

Bark & Foliage

  • The bark tends to form into long strips, reddish grey and stringy
  • The leaves are strong, narrow, waxy, growing to a sharp pointed tip

Flowers and Fruit

  • There are male and female trees
  • The female produces seed cones
  • The cones hold 3 seed pods that evolve from large fleshy red berries
  • The Male tree sheds pollen in late spring which pollenate the red flowers
  • The seeds mature in autumn

Interesting Facts

  • The wood is hard, straight grained and resistant to rotting
  • Used in fence posts, floor pilings and railway sleepers
  • The Maori love Totara and prize it for its carving properties and for their Waka
  • Totara grows easily from seeds and cuttings
  • The trees can survive alone on farms and will not be touched by cattle or sheep who dislike its smell

Information for Seniors

Totara

  • The lowland Totara is the largest of all Totara varieties
  • It also lasts the longest and there have been trees in NZ close to 1,000 years old
  • The average size of a mature tree is 25-30m with a diameter of 2-2.5m.
  • Found throughout NZ mostly in coastal lowland forest areas, predominantly is the volcanic plateau of the North Island
  • The seeds are dispersed by birds in their droppings
  • Totaras are slow growing , producing hard timber

Bark & Foliage

  • The bark tends to form into long strips, reddish grey and stringy
  • The leaves are strong, narrow, waxy, growing to a sharp pointed tip

Flowers and Fruit

  • There are male and female trees
  • The female produces seed cones
  • The cones hold 3 seed pods that evolve from large fleshy red berries
  • The Male tree sheds pollen in late spring which pollenate the red flowers
  • The seeds mature in autumn

Interesting Facts

  • The wood is hard, straight grained and resistant to rotting
  • Used in fence posts, floor pilings and railway sleepers
  • The Maori love Totara and prize it for its carving properties and for their Waka
  • Totara grows easily from seeds and cuttings
  • The trees can survive alone on farms and will not be touched by cattle or sheep who dislike its smell

Activities

  1. Find 4 facts describing why the Totara is one of the most sought-after timbers in NZ?
  2. Write a brief report showing the technology the Maori used for building their canoes from the Totara trees before the white man came.
  3. Find 4 photos that show the change of the machinery used in felling Totara trees since 1900.
  4. Draw a Totara leaf alongside a Kauri leaf. (You might like to do a rubbing artwork with 3 different native tree leaves).