{"id":11023,"date":"2024-04-26T22:48:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-26T10:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myblogary.com\/?p=11023"},"modified":"2024-05-01T13:38:35","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T01:38:35","slug":"te-matua-ngahere-father-of-the-forest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myblogary.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/26\/te-matua-ngahere-father-of-the-forest\/","title":{"rendered":"Te Matua Ngahere \u2014 \u201cFather of the Forest\u201d (RV Day 13)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

April 26<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Morning view over Hokianga Harbor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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This morning we drove to Opononi and Omapere<\/a>, two towns on the west coast along Hotianga Harbor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dedicated to Opo, a legendary friendly harbor dolphin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Town mural<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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We took the short walk to Arai te Uru<\/a>, the south headland of Hokianga Harbor, where legend has it Kupe first discovered NZ. Also known as the birthplace of the nation, some signatures of the Waitangi Treaty were also signed here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hokianga Harbor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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There were beautiful views of the Tasman Sea and surrounding sand dunes from Signal Station, a treacherous location that lets ships know when to cross into the gulf. A sandbar prevents cruise ships from entering the harbor and a positive result of this is the rich marine life. Frequent visits from whales, dolphins and other marine life are common here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to M\u0101ori mythology, Arai Te Uru and Niua (the north head of the harbour) were two taniwha (sea monsters) who had the job of guarding the harbour entrance. Their job was to lash out with their powerful tails and stir the waters into such frenzy that invading waka (canoes) would be swamped and rendered helpless in the sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rainbow over Omapere<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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We were given permission to freedom camp tonight in the parking lot of Manea Footprints of Kupe<\/a>, a M\u0101ori cultural center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We had a few hours before our evening tour, so we binged a few episodes of Suits. Almost done with season 2, seven more seasons to go. That doesn\u2019t sound like an accomplishment at all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 4.45 p.m., our guide Tawhiri (pronounced Ta-fa-ree) from Footprints Waipoua picked us up in his van and drove us and five other people to see the oldest and largest kauri trees in the world. We chose the sunset tour, which meant we would be the only people in the forest at that time and we also got to see an amazing sunset from an overlook at the top of Opononi-Omapere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This M\u0101ori led tour has been in operation for 12 years. Tawhiri is a member of the Ngapuhi tribe, NZ\u2019s largest. He was friendly, knowledgeable, kind and inquisitive. He enjoyed learning about our backgrounds and cultures as much as we enjoyed learning from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tawhiri – Our Amazing Guide<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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We arrived at the 22,000 acre Waipoua forest at sundown. Before entering the forest, we disinfected the bottom of our shoes again to prevent the kauri dieback fungus from destroying the roots of the trees and potentially killing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

M\u0101ori are working on a serum of ground whale bone and whale fat that gets applied to the base of sick trees to help cure them. It\u2019s only fitting that traditional M\u0101ori medicine could potentially save these sacred trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Blessing before entering the forest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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In M\u0101ori mythology, the kauri tree has an oceanic twin: the sperm whale. Ties between M\u0101ori and the whale species have been intrinsic throughout history. Whales have guided voyages and saved navigators from death on the water. Their fraternity ensures that the kauri of the forest will always have a whale brother in the sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We first stopped at some young kauri trees that were only 20-40 years old. \u201cBabies in the nursery,\u201d Tawhiri said. These trees are called rickers and have branches up the length of their trunk. As they age and the tree gains height and strength, the lower branches are shed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cBaby\u201d kauri trees<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Cones contain seeds for reproduction<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Kauri Seed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Kauri gum (sap)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Another few minutes walk led us to Te Matua Ngahere, \u201cFather of the Forest,\u201d the oldest kauri tree in the world. It is estimated to be about 3,000 years old. As we walked towards the famous kauri tree, Tawhiri started chanting a prayer in M\u0101ori. <\/a>(Click the link to listen.) His beautiful voice resonated throughout the forest. When we reached Te Matua, he sang a blessing in front of the tree and allowed us all a moment of silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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