When European settlers first arrived on our shores in the early 19th century, New Zealand was home to a vast untouched forest of old growth.
Many trees were hundreds, even thousands of years old, they were of gargantuan proportions, dense with timber of unparalleled quality.
Unsurprisingly, the abundant native timber quickly became a prized resource for export.

By the mid-1800s, large-scale logging operations were underway, felled trees were moved to waterways and tramways by bullock teams over corduroy roads.
Dams were constructed along the rivers and were "tripped" to create water surges that would carry the massive logs aboard rafts downstream towards the coast , where they could be milled and/or loaded onto ships for export.

For the next 150 years, this practice decimated much of New Zealand’s native forests, leaving only a fraction of the original old growth.
As the years went by, environmental awareness grew, restrictions on native logging tightened, culminating in the Forests Amendment Act of 1993 which banned the clear-felling of indigenous forests without strict oversight.

Today, the export of raw native New Zealand timber is prohibited without a permit.

During the 19th-century native timber boom, countless logs were lost to waterways as they were transported to the coast. Many of these sank, resting undisturbed on riverbeds for generations.

All native riverwoods used in my artworks are ethically sourced from NZ Native Riverwoods, a company dedicated to the responsible recovery and processing of these ancient timbers. With a deep commitment to sustainability, they ensure this finite resource is reclaimed with the utmost care and respect for the environment.

Beyond timber recovery, NZ Native Riverwoods actively partners with local nurseries to replant native species, working to restore and replenish what was lost. Through their efforts, they contribute to the ongoing legacy of Aotearoa’s forests, ensuring their endurance for future generations.

Excerpt from their website -

"The logs are recovered from the bottom of rivers. The Cold and Low Oxygen depths leave them completely preserved.

Many of the recovered logs were over five hundred years old when originally cut. It is not uncommon for us to recover logs that where well over 1200 years old when felled.

Each log has its own special characteristics producing a unique color, grain and character not found in any type of wood.

Each log is reclaimed one or two at a time from the bottom of rivers in the Northern region of New Zealand. 

A diver seeks the log by probing the muds of the river. Once located the log is marked for haulage to a raft where the timber is identified, the log is then transferred to the shore to await transport to the mill.

At the mill each log is rough sawn and graded by species, cut and colour. The planks are then filleted for air-drying. The length of time required for air-drying is determined by the species, the cut thickness and the density of the timber. 

Once the moisture content is sufficiently reduced, the timber is kiln-dried for stability before it is ready to be machined to the customer’s specifications"

The respectful use of this incredible resource ensures our living native trees are preserved for many generations to come whilst providing an opportunity to celebrate NZ native timber and its heritage.

For more about NZ Native Riverwood please see their website linked below.