The Kauri

Born in Takapuna, Auckland, I moved up to Hokianga in 1972. I was lucky enough to meet the last two gum-diggers a few times, being a surfer who frequented Shipwreck Bay, and sometimes drove my old Landrover up and over the gum fields for a look, or to visit Tanutanu beach. I can’t believe now, that I witnessed huge kauri logs…one per truck…passing by on the road from Pawarenga towards the mill every day in the early 70s, and did nothing to stop the raping of the Warawara forest of the last mature kauri…and neither did the other locals in the area…no protests…no road blocks. In fact I went up there with a friend and and got some leftovers from the stumps and heads that were left, and so did some of the locals from Pawarenga; the new forestry roads making for easy access. I was amazed that the so called ‘selective logging’ done, meant that they felled everything except the crooked, hollow, or small trees. We’ll just have to wait another thousand years for the next crop…talk of felling rikas only 30 years old is ridiculous.

We can't tell you the name of the song - but it's by Paul Metsers, whose website is here:

http://www.paulmetsers.com/Biography.html

Does anyone know the name of the song at the start when there showing the pictures of the felling

Oh my god this is the first time I've seen my dad Wi Parata Hape in a video so cool

Just came across this short film (really enjoyed it) while looking on the internet to learn more about the kauri tree. I hope the kauri tree in the news at the moment will not be cut down.

First time I have ever seen my grandfather Nick Yakas is in this video.

the almighty kauri, I have planted quite a few kauri on my place in the Hokianga, some are starting to grow tall now. On my property at Waiotemarama was one of the timber mills which aidded in death of many a fine tree. Louis What a treasure trove of fantastic bits of our past