Pōhutukawa tree on Tiritiri Matangi. This tree is called the "New Zealand Christmas tree" because it blooms in December. Maori use the blooming of this tree as an indication of when to fish for shell fish. On Tiritiri Matangi we saw a Pōhutukawa that was estimated to be 1000 years old.
We took a day trip to Tiritiri Matangi which is an island about 30 km north east of Auckland. After 1994, this island was established as a wildlife sanctuary when it was reforested by volunteers and the ongoing process of eliminating mammalian predators was begun.
The island includes a small population of Takahe which was thought to be extinct until found in Fiordlands NP in 1948.
Tiritiri Matangi
December 3, 2011
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