The Whakarewarewa Redwoods #HogsAbroad in New Zealand

me & a large redwood

Hi all! Kaitlyn here. In our first day in New Zealand, we stopped by the Whakarewarewa Forest in Rotorua, which is home to scores of California Redwood trees, among several other plants. We did not stay for long, but I was absolutely enthralled and excited in our time there.

As part of my Tour Guide Assignment, I reported on the history and ecology of these trees. Seeing as they are not endemic to New Zealand, I was curious as to how these trees were so successful in their growth in the area. Because of the temperate, humid, and consistent climate, these trees were able to grow slowly, yet steadily, surpassing the abilities of competing tree species. They are nowhere near the age and height of their relatives in the Sierra Madres, and yet they are thriving as though they evolved here.

The first redwood seeds were imported from Northern California in 1901 after a massive earthquake severely damaged much of the indigenous flora in 1886. The repatriation of the land with redwoods was significant to Maori peoples in Rotorua, considering that the land had been modified by European settlers for agricultural purposes prior to the earthquake.

During the 20th century, the forest was slowly groomed for the public recreational use it encounters today. It was declared a memorial site for the World Wars in 1947. Nearby sawmills utilized forest timber to construct rope and wood bridges higher up between the trees for access to different perspectives of the forest. Personally, when I saw this, I felt a bit sad because the bridges were anchored into the larger, i.e., older, trees in the glen. The price of tourism really reflected in those structures.

Overall, the redwoods were absolutely breathtaking. I hugged so many growths, both thin and wide, young and old. The heights were staggering, with the branches of each tree radiating outward in an upward spiral. I am so glad I got to see them.

under the canopy of an old tree

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