Tōtara  (Podocarpus totara) is one of New Zealand’s most iconic native trees, belonging to the podocarp family. It is a slow-growing, long-lived conifer that thrives in lowland forests, riverbanks, and hillsides. Totara trees can reach heights of 20 to 30 meters (65 to 98 feet) and develop massive trunks with a girth of up to 4 meters (13 feet) or more. Some totara trees are estimated to be up to 2,000 years old, making them a symbol of longevity and resilience.

The tree’s dense, straight-grained timber is highly valued for its durability, resistance to rot, and ease of carving.
A personal favourite of mine, there's no end to the variation in grain between trees,
Tōtara often features beautiful figuring.

Historically, Māori used totara wood for carving waka (canoes), whare (houses), and intricate tools. The timber's reddish-brown hue deepens with age, and its fine, even grain makes it ideal for detailed woodworking.

Like all NZ native trees, Tōtara trees are illegal to fell without permit.
Working with Tōtara recovered from our rivers offers a sustainable way to work with this remarkable timber while preserving standing trees for future generations

Kauri (Agathis australis) is one of New Zealand’s most iconic and ancient trees, thriving in the subtropical forests of the North Island. These slow-growing conifers can reach heights of up to 50 meters (165 feet) and trunk girths of 16 meters (52 feet).

yes, you did read that correctly.

Some Kauri, like Tāne Mahuta (1st picture) in Waipoua Forest, are estimated to be over 2,000 years old, making them symbols of endurance and strength. Revered by Māori as “The god of the sky,” Tāne Mahuta stands 45 meters (148 feet) tall with a circumference of 15.44 meters (50.7 feet).

Kauri timber is prized for its pale golden color, straight grain.

Often featuring stunning visual depth and an unmistakeable golden glow, Kauri occasionally becomes becomes highly figured and chatoyant.
Historically, Māori used it for waka (canoes), carvings, and structures, while settlers valued it for shipbuilding and furniture.

Today, like all natives its illegal to fell Kauri without a permit.
They are fiercely protected due to their 'threatened' status, a result of the species specific Kauri dieback disease spreading the country.
Large scale conservation efforts are in effect to help reduce the spread, with spray stations for your boots at the entry and exit of each walk, hopefully you kill the bug before you accidentally walk it in on your feet.
Smart.

Working with Kauri recovered from Northlands rivers offers a sustainable way to celebrate this rare timber, its history and its beauty while protecting living trees for future generations.

With its unmatched versatility and mythical status among woodworkers, Kauri remains the crown jewel of New Zealand’s native timbers.

Matai (Prumnopitys taxifolia) is a slow-growing, long-lived native conifer found in lowland forests across New Zealand. These elegant trees can grow to heights of up to 25 meters (82 feet), with trunks often reaching up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) in diameter. Matai trees can live for several hundred years, they are symbols of endurance and stability.

Matai timber is prized for its deep, rich golden-brown color and its interlocked grain, which gives it a unique ribbon-like appearance when finished.
Historically, Māori used Matai for waka (canoes), while settlers valued it for flooring and construction due to its strength and durability.
Today, rarely felled, river recovered Matai provides a sustainable source of this treasured timber, allowing woodworkers to celebrate its beauty without impacting living forests.

Kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides), also known as white pine, is New Zealand’s tallest native tree, thriving in lowland swamp forests and river plains. These towering conifers can grow to heights of up to 66 meters (216 feet), with trunk diameters of up to 2 meters (6.5 feet).

Kahikatea timber is pale and straight-grained, with a fine, even texture. Historically, it was highly valued for its lightweight and its stability, it has anti bacterial properties which made it ideal for crafting dairy storage boxes and butter churns. Māori also used kahikatea for waka (canoes) and traditional structures.

Today, Kahikatea is often used in fine furniture and decorative applications it's appreciated for its light color and subtle beauty.

River recovered kahikatea often takes on stunning watercoloring throughout its golden grain, each piece uniquely stained by the river sediments where they lay in wait for recovery.

Working with native timber recovered from our rivers offers a sustainable way to work with this rare timber while preserving standing trees for the future.

Rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum), also known as red pine, is one of New Zealand’s most beloved native trees, found in forests throughout the country. This graceful conifer can grow to heights of up to 50 meters (165 feet), with trunks reaching up to 2 meters (6 feet) in diameter. Rimu trees are long-lived, often thriving for several hundred years and forming an integral part of New Zealand’s forest ecosystems.

Rimu timber is highly prized for its deep reddish-brown tones, often highlighted by stunning figuring and chatoyance that adds depth and complexity to the wood. Its strength and durability made it a favorite for furniture, flooring, and construction during early settlement periods. Māori used rimu for tools, structures, and decorative carvings, while settlers utilised it extensively for construction and eventually fine joinery and cabinetry.
Known for its versatility and rich character, rimu remains a treasured material among woodworkers and artisans alike.

Today, like all New Zealand native trees, Rimu is protected.
It is illegal to harvest live trees.
Working with native timber recovered from our rivers offers a sustainable way to work with this precious timber ensuring sustainability while celebrating its timeless beauty.

Puriri (Vitex lucens) is a striking native hardwood tree, often found in coastal and lowland forests.
Known for its spreading canopy and gnarled, twisting branches, puriri can grow to heights of up to 20 meters (65 feet), with massive trunks reaching up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) in diameter. These trees can live for hundreds of years, standing as sentinels of New Zealand’s landscapes.

Puriri timber is exceptionally dense and durable, with a beautiful greenish-brown hue and striking patterns, often featuring natural defects like burls and swirling grains. Māori traditionally used puriri for weapons, tools, and structures, while European settlers relied on its incredible hardness for fence posts and railway sleepers.

Today, Puriri’s vibrant character and durability make it a favorite among woodworkers for furniture and decorative items.

Like all New Zealand native trees, Pururi are protected.
This timber is extremely difficult to come by
River recovered Pururi provides a sustainable source of this treasured timber, allowing woodworkers to celebrate its beauty without impacting living forests.

Northern Rātā (Metrosideros robusta) is a magnificent flowering tree, native to the North Island of New Zealand.
belonging to the same family as the more famous Pohutukawa both trees are known for their bright red blossoms that light up the forest canopy.

Rātā begins life as an epiphyte, growing on host trees, before eventually sending down roots to the forest floor and developing into a massive, free-standing tree. Northern Rātā can reach heights of up to 30 meters (98 feet), with sprawling trunks often exceeding 2 meters (6.5 feet) in diameter.

The timber of Northern Rātā is incredibly dense and durable, with a rich reddish-brown colour and intricate grain patterns. Historically, Māori used rātā for tools, weapons, and carving due to its hardness and resilience.

Today, salvaged rātā timber is highly sought after by artisans for its stunning color and workability, often used in fine furniture and art pieces.
With conservation efforts in place to protect living trees, river salvaged Rātā offers a sustainable way to honour this iconic red flowered species.