Kauri timber Many years ago, long wide planks of faultless, superb timber were cut from the mighty kauri tree trunks. The timber was used for many purposes: ship building (including masts and spars of sailing ships), houses, furniture, bridges, fences, dams, patterns (used for metal casting), vats and tanks, barrels, large rollers (in the textile […]
Along with significant collections of operational machinery, natural history specimens and social history artefacts, The Kauri Museum holds extensive documentary and photographic archives relating to the kauri forests and the timber and gum industries. The Museum is also guardian to archives relating to the family histories and genealogies of the early European families of the
New Zealand Kauri (Agathis australis) has significant cultural significance, to Maori and more recent settlers alike. These towering giants represent an important connection for Maori spiritual beliefs. Their prized timber and gum (the resin produced by the tree that over time becomes a young amber), formed the industries that shaped modern New Zealand. The Kauri
