Archived content: This media release was accurate on the date of publication.
Date: 09 November 2020
The Department of Conservation will close public access to Tāne Mahuta, in Waipoua Forest, from Monday 16 November to (approximately) Thursday 19 November 2020 to undertake repairs to the viewing platform.
Although DOC appreciates there may be some public disappointment at not being able to see Tāne Mahuta at this time, there is still the opportunity to visit Te Matua Ngahere and other great kauri at Trounson Kauri Park and Waiotemarama during this time.
This work will continue to help provide protection to Waipoua Forest from Kauri dieback.
Check the DOC website or call the Kauri Coast DOC office for reopening information as weather, and other factors may push work out.
DOC Customer Service Centre
| Phone: | 0800 275 362 |
| Email: | dargaville@doc.govt.nz |
| Address: | Te Tai Kauri / Kauri Coast Office |
About Tāne Mahuta
Tāne Mahuta (Lord of the Forest) is New Zealand’s largest known living kauri tree.
It is thought the first encounter of the tree by Pākehā was in the 1920s, by contractors surveying the present SH12 through the forest. In 1928, Nicholas Yakas and other bushmen who were building the road also came across the big tree Tāne Mahuta.
According to Maori mythology Tāne is the son of Ranginui the sky father and Papatūānuku the earth mother. Tāne was the child that tore his parents' 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 Tāne's children.
Measurements:
- Trunk girth: 13.77 m
- Trunk height: 17.68 m
- Total height: 51.2 m
- Trunk volume: 244.5 m³
About kauri dieback
Kauri dieback can kill kauri of all ages. It’s a disease caused by a microscopic fungus-like organism, called Phytophthora agathidicida (PA). It lives in the soil and infects kauri roots, damaging the tissues that carry nutrients and water within the tree, effectively starving it to death.
There’s currently no proven cure or treatment, and nearly all infected kauri die. The disease is easily spread through soil movements, eg when soil is carried on dirty footwear, animals, equipment and vehicles. A pinhead size of soil is enough to spread the disease.
Even though a lot of infected kauri will show physical disease symptoms, a tree can still be infected and not show any symptoms of the disease at all.
Kauri dieback is threatening our kauri, our taonga. We can save our kauri forests with your help by containing the disease and stopping it spreading to other areas by keeping to tracks and boardwalk and using cleaning stations.