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The finest collection of indigenous flora in the Country The Hukutaia Domain
At Hukutaia, you will experience a typical warm temperature rain forest of New Zealand, a local plant community that includes hardwood trees and shrubs, perching plants and epiphytes, palms, tree ferns and lianes, ferns, herbs and native grasses. You will notice how this forest is divided into foliage layers with the uppermost tall canopy trees and emergent 'rewarewa', the sub-canopy smaller trees, palms and tree ferns, then next the shrubs, the large 'king ferns' and juvenile trees until finally we reach the forest floor with its ferns, sedges, grasses, seedlings, mosses and mass of fallen debris. What is not so apparent within the peace and tranquility of Hukutaia is the tremendous biological activity that is taking place around us including that most important chemical reaction of photosynthesis during daylight hours and transpiration during darkness. Photosynthesis is the basis of life itself on earth and is the process where energy from the sun is transformed by green plants into energy in the form of food. When we eat we obtain energy to live whether we consume some form of plant life directly, or indirectly through the body of another animal. And transpiration in trees and other plants is, of course, one of the major regulators of climatic conditions. Besides the many regional plants of Hukutaia, there are numerous introductions from elsewhere throughout the country, as you will glean from the 'origin' stated on plant name pegs. These species mostly appear in clearings, on track margins and within rock gardens, and many are rare or endangered plants that the more discerning visitor will appreciate. The History In 1918 the Woodlands Estate of some 2000 acres owned by "Mr E.M.Hutchison of Gisborne was purchased by the Government for rehabilitation settlement of returned servicemen. A surveyor, "Mr P.W. Barlow," supervised the subdividing and the creation of the reserve area which included the historical "puriri." This burial tree was discovered as such by Mr Oliver Evans, manager of the Estate, when he was searching for a missing horse during a storm in 1913. During his search he found a large limb of the tree had broken off exposing countless human bones within the hollow interior. From then on local Maori, townsfolk and country-folk were concerned with the preservation of this sacred burial tree and its surrounding area. In view of the history surrounding the tree and the desire of the settlers themselves for a reserve, the council agreed to take over the area of approximately 10 acres. The area was set aside and shown on maps and records as a public domain. In 1925 a local settler applied to purchase the area and feelings in the district ran high. A petition opposing the transfer was tabled at the council meeting where it was accepted. Following this, a meeting of interested people was held in the Woodlands Hall and a committee formed to raise money for fencing and other work on the reserve. Much voluntary work also went into the effort. After a boundary alteration increasing the area to 11 acres, it was declared a Recreation Reserve in the N.Z Gazette dated May 27 1926. In July of that year it was proclaimed a public domain, to be known as the Hukutaia Domain and in the following month the first Domain Board, comprising five returned servicemen and two others, was formed. The Domain Board was enthusiastic and many improvements were effected. In 1933, Mr Norman Potts, a well-known amateur botanist, was appointed chairman. It is due largely to his knowledge, endeavour and planning that Hukutaia Domain has today one of the finest public collections of native plants in New Zealand. Mr Potts planted countless young natives, collected from his numerous expeditions throughout the country, or grown from seed sent by friends, or from exchanges with other enthusiasts. The number of different species was many hundreds and each variety was labeled by a peg stating the botanical name, the habitat origin, and the Maori or common name if known. It was an accepted rule that only indigenous species be planted, labeled with their source in the wild. Any exotics here are generally weeds from neighbouring farmlands. Norman Potts had three great interests... people were his 'first love', botany and the N.Z. flora his second, and then the Maori people, their culture, history and language. In Opotiki he is remembered chiefly for his work in the Hukutaia Domain. Concerning this, he traveled often to all parts of the country gathering plant material, frequently with professional botanists. He corresponded with many others, and made available to various public gardens, societies and people, seeds, plants and information about New Zealand flora. In 1944 he received the Loder Cup for his work in the protection and cultivation of native plants. He discovered three plants that are named after him, and two of these appear on the rock garden adjacent to the entrance gate. They are... Coriaria pottsiana a small alpine 'tutu' that grows only on Mt Hikurangi at about 4000-ft a.s.l. inland from Ruatoria. Myosotis pottsiana a dainty little white-flowered 'forget-me-not' that grows locally in the Waioweka and Waiotahe river valleys.
TAKETAKERAU
This is the named Puriri (Vitex lucens) within the Domain and which is about 67 feet in girth, over 70 feet high and estimated to be over 2000 years old. It came within boundaries of the local Whakatohea tribe - beyond Kutarere to Opape, more particularly the sub-tribe, the Upokorehe, who stretched from the western limits to the Waioweka River, below the Domain. They used the tree for their distinguished dead. The bones of the deceased were dug up some years after death, with much ritual, including on occasions the sacrifice of slaves, and then painted with oxide of iron to be deposited in a hollow tree or cave, so that they would not be found by enemies. A tree and surrounding area was highly tapu (sacred) and any desecration of this was a deadly matter and an affront to the tribal gods. The offender's death would surely follow. It may be of interest that the bones of the dead here were taken away and reburied many years ago , and the original 'tapu' lifted. |
