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New Zealand Christmas Tree

The cultural icons of a New Zealand Christmas are no longer the snow-covered holly and fir trees of our Northern Hemisphere ancestors, and instead, kiwis have begun to celebrate our summer festive season, and the fiery burst of colour that heralds Christmas in Aotearoa, lets us know Christmas is coming.
There are two main species of tree that we are used to seeing splashed all over Christmas cards, and even decorations at this time of year, and they are the Rata and Pohutakawa trees.  Both from the myrtle family, they are related to guavas, feijoas and even eucalyptus trees, but are native to NZ. 

Pohutakawa 
The Pohutukawa tree is possibly one of the best known and most loved New Zealand native trees. Although the Pohutukawa has its natural range in the North Island, it can be found planted throughout New Zealand in coastal areas wherever frosts are not severe.
The pohutakawa is a very hardy and tough tree, and can withstand salty winds and drought, as well as being able to successfully grow in the poorest of soils. 
Pohutukawa flowers are bright red, smothering the tree in December, hence its common name: the New Zealand Christmas Tree.
Growing to 15m tall in old age, the Pohutukawa will retain a shrubbier form for many years. Indeed it can be clipped into an attractive yet robust coastal hedge.

The scientific name for pohutakawa means tall ironwood, and the wood was hugely favoured by early European boat builders, because the natural bends were ideal for making boats, and the timber was immune to seaworms.  The ribs of the largest sailing ship built in New Zealand, the 409 tonne Stirlingshire, were made of pohutakawa.
Legends of the young warrior Tawhaki and his attempt to find help in heaven to avenge his father's death, tell of him falling to earth, and the crimson flowers of the pohutakawa is said to represent his blood.
A lone and small pohutakawa tree clinging to the cliffs at Cape Reinga is thought to be 800 years old.  Maori believed it guarded the entrance to a sacred cave through which spirits would pass through on to the next world.
Why not try something different this Christmas& instead of bringing out the plastic tree, or buying a sad-looking pine, why not plant your very own New Zealand Christmas Tree which will last for many a Christmas to come!

Rata
The two most well-known forms of Rata are the Southern and Northern Rata (although the name is a little confusing, both trees overlap between their ranges, with northern rata growing to northern Westland, and southern rata growing everywhere except Northland.

Rata are generally climbing plants, with beautiful crimson flowers, and provide very important sources of nectar for birds such as tui and bellbirds. Unfortunately these flowers are also sought after by possums, who munch their way through tons of flowers and leaves at a time.  Sadly, the pressure of the munching possums becomes too much for the tree, and it eventually dies.  Possums prefer rata leaves and flowers to almost any other plant.
The northern rata starts out as a type of parasite (called epiphytes) and begins its life as a seed that is planted (by birds or wind), in the tops of host trees. From there, its roots travel down the trunk of the other tree to the ground, where they eventually reach the ground. In time, the mature rata will take the place of the host tree.

Southern rata grows from a seed in the ground to become a tree up to 15 metres high with a trunk 1 metre through.
Rata trees have glossy dark green leaves and trunks that are often gnarled and twisted. However they are best known for their brilliant red flowers that appear in profusion from November to January, depending on location, and can be seen from some distance away.
The iron-heart of the rata is famous, and an early anthropologist in New Zealand once wrote of bored Maori youths in the Wellington region who would set fire to rata trees, and that it was not uncommon for the tree to burn for six months or more.

What is being done to protect our New Zealand Christmas Trees?
Project Crimson
The Project Crimson Trust was established 16 years ago, after research showed that 90% of the original pohutakawa forest of New Zealand had disappeared. The Trust was established to protect pohutakawa, and rata was added five years later.
Since the Trust was formed in 1990, volunteers have successfully established hundreds of thousands of pohutukawa and rata trees.
Every year the trust holds a funding round, for all individuals and groups who are interested in getting hold of trees or financial resources to support a conservation project they are planning.
There are about 75 projects every year throughout New Zealand that are supported by Project Crimson, and they must demonstrate the benefit to the public. 
Seventy per cent of projects focus on pohutakawa, and the rest support conservation of rata.  In Wellington, major rata project being undertaken by council.  In the Tinakori Hills  1500 northern rata trees per year are being planted over a five year period.  The idea came about when council decided to get rid of the pines up there.  At that point, Project Crimson jumped in and asked if the hill could be replanted in rata.  Other major projects include the replanting of Kawhia harbour in Pohutakawa. Back when Maori first arrived, they described it as a "ring of fire", now most of it has gone.
A large amount of funding and support also goes into education of the public about pest control and the effect of stock on our crimson trees. 
At this time of year, there is always a great excitement about blooms. Rata blooms have come earlier this year.  It really is a fantastic time of year to go and have a look.  Project Crimson promotes a whole series of Crimson Trails, in Northland, Auckland, Mt Maunganui, Coromandel, Otago, Golden Bay, West Coast, and Southland.

Crimson trails are a great way to look at more prominent and beautiful stands of rata and pohutakawa in New Zealand.  Some are on DOC tracks. Some are simply walking and driving trails.

What you can do to help protect NZ Christmas Trees
Project Crimson has an awesome website - with a newly established shop, where you can buy great Christmas presents.  There are T-shirts, (men and women), Christmas decorations (10 a box), and the lovely Atarangi Crimson wine.  Phillip Simpson's book, Pohutakawa and Rata - is a Montana Award Winner.  There are also gorgeous deckchairs with amazing pohutakawa prints on them.
Major progress has been made, but still a long way to go. People have started to realise that it's an important tree socially and culturally, e.g. Christmas cards now claim its summer heritage - and pohutakawa is a strong icon for that.
If you're interested in applying, no project is too small, check out the website, very simple application  - trustees deliberate in March.

 

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