Waipoua Kauri Forest

Waipoua Kauri Forest lies on the south side of Hokianga Harbour, 65km northwest of Dargaville. This primeval forest, covering 90 sq.km, has the largest surviving stands of kauri trees in New Zealand.

Waymarked trails lead from Highway 12 to two imposing kauri giants: Tane Mahuta (god of the forest) and Te Matua Ngahere (father of the forest). Tane Mahuta is the largest known kauri, standing 51.5m high, with a trunk measuring over 4m in diameter; it is estimated to be 1200 years old. Te Matua Ngahere is only 30m high but has a still thicker trunk than Tane Mahuta; it is about 2000 years old.

New Zealand's kauri forests were bought up from the 1870s onwards to make room for new settlements. Legislation for the