North Canterbury News: July 29, 2021

Giant totara ageing gracefully
By SHELLEY TOPP
Agiant totara in Ashley Gorge could be
Waimakariri’s oldest tree.
At an estimated age of more than
1000­years­old the totara, which is
situated on the Forest Giants Track
under development on the bush face
above the existing Loop Track at Ashley
Gorge, is adefinite candidate for oldest
tree in Waimakariri, said John Burton,
manager of the Ashley Gorge Tracks
Group.
‘‘My guess is that this totara is
certainly hundreds of years old and
quite possibly more than one thousand
years old,’’he said.
Trees, especially those this old, were
vital to the environment for many
reasons.
‘‘They provide ahome for many living
beings and exist in an environment
humans could learn so much from,’’ he
said.
‘‘Especially if we want to survive as a
species on this planet along with all the
other species, most of which wouldn't
mind greatly if we weren't here.’’ he
said.
‘‘Trees also clean the air by taking in
carbon, locking it up and producing
oxygen, and forests provide acalming,
stimulating and educational place to
spend time in.’’
Department of Conservation (DOC)
community ranger Sarah Ensor said it
would be difficult to pin point the oldest
tree in the Waimakariri district, but
there would be many contenders.
‘‘The first to spring to mind for me is
the giant matai that the Ashley Gorge
kaitiaki(guardians) are hoping to create
aside track to, and Ithink there is a
massive New Zealand tree fuchsia
(kotukutuku), there too,’’ she said.
‘‘Failing that there are some pretty
magnificent New Zealand tree fuchsias
Young caretakers ... Amassive Totara tree believed to be more than 1000­years­old, on
the Forest Giants Track under development on the bush face above the existing Loop Track
at Ashley Gorge. Bailey Baker, left, Keegan Bremner and Emma Warwick, are members of
the Ashley Gorge Tracks and Trapping Project.
PHOTO: JOHN BURTON,ASHLEY GORGE TRACKS GROUP MANAGER
on the Kereru Loop Track at Wooded
Gully (in the Mt Thomas Forest
Conservation Area).’’
However, DOC’s North Canterbury
operations manager, Kingsley Timpson
believes the matagouri and kanuka trees
situated in Okuku Gorge, ‘‘true right on
the journey up to Pinchgut Hut and
around the hut,’’ could also be
candidates for Waimakariri’s oldest
tree.
‘‘These trees are likely to be many
hundreds of years old, way in excess of
the surrounding beech trees, as they are
very slow growing,’’ he said.
‘‘A matagouri the diameter of your
arm is likely to be acouple of hundred
years old and the same for kanuka.”
New Zealand’s oldest tree is believed
to be Tane Mahuta (Lord of the Forest),
which is located in Northland’s
Waipoua Forest and is estimated to be
between 1250 and 2500 years old.
However, compared to the world’s
oldest non­clonal, individual tree, a
Great Basin bristlecone pine in
California’s White Mountains, which is
thought to be 4852 years old this year,
New Zealand’s giant kauri is just a
young sapling.
NEWS
The North Canterbury News, July 29, 2021
IN BRIEF
15
Comfort plus
Comfortstops in Greta Valley, Rotherham
and at St Anne’s Lagoon, will be alittle
more up marketbysummer. TheHurunui
District Councilhas received $352,000
fromthe Ministry of Business, Innovation
andEmployment Tourism Infrastructure
Fund fornew toilets in the three areas.
Free pianoconcert
University of Canterbury pianostudents
are planning afree concert in Rangiora.
Piano at theGallery, is presented by the
WaimakaririCommunity Arts Council and
willbeperformed in the Rangiora
Library’s Chamber Gallery on Sunday,
August 22,at2pm.
Thestudents will be joined by their
teacher,well known Christchurch pianist,
Tim Emerson, fortheir performance. The
concert will be the students’ last
performancebeforetheirfinalpiano
exams.
Lost property
Thefollowingproperty has been reported
to the policeasbeinglost in North
Canterbury­have youseen it? Mazda keys
withScotland andunicornkeyrings, a
rosegold ring which is aplain band with
abow,alightgreenwallet,blackiPhone
11 in aclear case, ablack Mitsubishi
remote car key (fobhas redstitching and
embossed “Christchurch Mitsubishi”)
plusasilver house key, ablackleather
wallet, and an iPhone 5S in white
diamante case.
Floodrelief
Bloom Hearing hasbeen overwhelmed
withclothing and bedding leftatits
Rangiorapremises for victims of the
Westport floods. Thank you all, butno
more is needed.
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