111-524: Helensville ( Māori : Te Awaroa ) is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. It is sited 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of Auckland , close to the southern extremity of the Kaipara Harbour . State Highway 16 passes through the town, connecting it to Waimauku 16 kilometres (10 mi) to the south, and Kaukapakapa about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) to the north-east. Parakai
222-403: A dendrochronology has been created which reaches back 4,500 years, the longest tree ring record of past climate change in the southern hemisphere. One 1700 year old swamp wood kauri that dates to approximately 42,000 years ago contains fine-scale carbon-14 fluctuations in its rings that may be reflective of the most recent magnetic field flip of the earth. Much like podocarps , it feeds in
333-650: A drying process , such ancient kauri can be used for furniture, but not for construction. The small remaining pockets of kauri forest in New Zealand have survived in areas that were not subjected to burning by Māori and were too inaccessible for European loggers. The largest area of mature kauri forest is Waipoua Forest in Northland . Mature and regenerating kauri can also be found in other National and Regional Parks such as Puketi and Omahuta Forests in Northland,
444-473: A kauri timber mill on the eastern banks of the Kaipara River, at the modern-day site of Helensville. McLeod named his house "Helen's Villa", after his wife, which became the name for the township that developed around the timber mill. McLeod milled the kauri on the lands adjacent to his timber mill, and after a few years, Ngāti Whātua established a kāinga on the opposite banks. The town grew based on
555-522: A Christian-based education. All these schools are coeducational. Helensville railway station is on the North Auckland Line but the station has been closed since 2009. North Island The North Island ( Māori : Te Ika-a-Māui [tɛ i.kɐ ɐ mɑː.ʉ.i] , lit. 'the fish of Māui', officially North Island or Te Ika-a-Māui or historically New Ulster ) is one of the two main islands of New Zealand , separated from
666-409: A century, has considerably decreased the number of kauri trees. It has been estimated that before 1840, the kauri forests of northern New Zealand occupied at least 12,000 square kilometres. The British Royal Navy sent four vessels, HMS Coromandel (1821), HMS Dromedary (1821), HMS Buffalo (1840), and HMS Tortoise (1841) to gather kauri-wood spars. By 1900, less than 10 per cent of
777-401: A cone contains a single winged seed approximately 5 mm by 8 mm and attached to a thin wing perhaps half as large again. The cone is fully open and dispersed within only two to three days of starting. Studies show that kauri develop root grafts through which they share water and nutrients with neighbours of the same species. Heavy logging , which began around 1820 and continued for
888-463: A different pathogen, Phytophthora agathidicida and subsequently spread to kauri forest on the mainland. The disease, known as kauri dieback or kauri collar rot, is believed to be over 300 years old and causes yellowing leaves, thinning canopy, dead branches, lesions that bleed resin, and tree death. Phytophthora agathidicida was identified as a new species in April 2008. Its closest known relative
999-419: A few weeks. In terms of local topography , kauri is far from randomly dispersed. As mentioned above, kauri relies on depriving its competitors of nutrition in order to survive. However, one important consideration not discussed thus far is the slope of the land. Water on hills flows downward by the action of gravity, taking with it the nutrients in the soil. This results in a gradient from nutrient poor soil at
1110-461: A food source for the larvae of the New Zealand giraffe weevil, Lasiorhynchus barbicornis . The larvae of L. barbicornis burrow into the wood of a tree for up to two years. Then L. barbicornis exit the bark of the tree as a fully formed adult beetle. These adult L. barbicornis exit from trees in Spring and Summer and months. After emerging from the tree, these adult L. barbicornis only live for
1221-632: A generation of trees of similar age after each disturbance. The distribution of kauri allows researchers to deduce when and where disturbances have occurred, and how large they may have been; the presence of abundant kauri may indicate that an area is prone to disturbance. Kauri seedlings can still occur in areas with low light but mortality rates increase for such seedlings, and those that survive self-thinning and grow to sapling stage tend to be found in higher light environments. During periods with less disturbance kauri tends to lose ground to broadleaf competitors which can better tolerate shaded environments. In
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#17327973445061332-527: A larger population than the South Island, with the country's largest city, Auckland, and the capital, Wellington, accounting for nearly half of it. There are 30 urban areas in the North Island with a population of 10,000 or more: The sub-national GDP of the North Island was estimated at NZ$ 282.355 billion in 2021 (78% of New Zealand's national GDP). Nine local government regions cover
1443-399: A major centre for the dairy industry between 1911 and the 1980s. The name Helensville comes from early settler John McLeod, and is a version of Helen's Villa, his house, that he named after his wife Helen Alexander. The first known references in print to Helensville date to 1863. The Māori language name, Te Awaroa , means "The Wide River", and is the name of a tributary stream that meets
1554-467: A mature tree in which its own roots feed. As with most perennials, these feeding roots also house a symbiotic fungi known as mycorrhiza which increase the plant's efficiency in taking up nutrients. In this mutualistic relationship, the fungus derives its own nutrition from the roots. In its interactions with the soil, kauri is thus able to starve its competitors of much needed nutrients and compete with much younger lineages . The fungi on kauri are
1665-638: A petition to the Government. The zoologist William Roy McGregor was one of the driving forces in this movement, writing an 80-page illustrated pamphlet on the subject, which proved an effective manifesto for conservation. Along with the Warawara to the North, Waipoua Forest contains three quarters of New Zealand's remaining kauri. Kauri Grove on the Coromandel Peninsula is another area with
1776-449: A population density of 29 people per km. Before the 2023 census, Helensville Rural had a larger boundary, covering 56.92 km (21.98 sq mi). Using that boundary, Helensville Rural had a population of 1,524 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 189 people (14.2%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 315 people (26.1%) since the 2006 census . There were 498 households, comprising 771 males and 753 females, giving
1887-702: A population of 2,787 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 144 people (5.4%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 255 people (10.1%) since the 2006 census . There were 993 households, comprising 1,413 males and 1,377 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 36.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 642 people (23.0%) aged under 15 years, 507 (18.2%) aged 15 to 29, 1,221 (43.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 417 (15.0%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 84.6% European/Pākehā, 20.3% Māori, 7.6% Pacific peoples, 4.2% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas
1998-653: A potentially attractive alternative to short rotation forestry options such as Pinus radiata . Kauri is considered a first rate timber. The whiter sapwood is generally slightly lighter in weight. Kauri is not highly resistant to rot and when used in boatbuilding must be protected from the elements with paint, varnish or epoxy to avoid rot. Its popularity with boatbuilders is due to its very long, clear lengths, its relatively light weight and its beautiful sheen when oiled or varnished. Kauri wood planes and saws easily. Its wood holds screws and nails very well and does not readily split, crack, or warp. Kauri wood darkens with age to
2109-749: A remaining cluster of kauri, and includes the Siamese Kauri , two trees with a conjoined lower trunk. In 1921 a philanthropic Cornishman named James Trounson sold to the Government for £40,000, a large area adjacent to a few acres of Crown land and said to contain at least 4,000 kauri trees. From time to time Trounson gifted additional land, until what is known as Trounson Park comprised a total of 4 km . The most famous specimens are Tāne Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere in Waipoua Forest. These two trees have become tourist attractions because of their size and accessibility. Tane Mahuta, named after
2220-461: A result of Māui's brothers' hacking at the fish. During Captain James Cook 's voyage between 1769 and 1770 , Tahitian navigator Tupaia accompanied the circumnavigation of New Zealand. The maps described the North Island as " Ea Heinom Auwe " and " Aeheinomowe ", which recognises the "Fish of Māui" element. Another Māori name that was given to the North Island, but is now used less commonly,
2331-543: A richer golden brown colour. Very little New Zealand kauri is now sold, and the most commonly available kauri in New Zealand is Fiji kauri , which is very similar in appearance but lighter in weight. Prehistoric kauri forests have been preserved in waterlogged soils as swamp kauri . A considerable number of kauri have been found buried in salt marshes , resulting from ancient natural changes such as volcanic eruptions, sea-level changes and floods. Such trees have been radiocarbon dated to 50,000 years ago or older. The bark and
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#17327973445062442-447: A sex ratio of 1.02 males per female. The median age was 42.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 306 people (20.1%) aged under 15 years, 264 (17.3%) aged 15 to 29, 771 (50.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 183 (12.0%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 93.7% European/Pākehā, 11.6% Māori, 3.0% Pacific peoples, 2.8% Asian, and 1.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas
2553-420: A single branch falling off. Kauri trees must therefore remain alive long enough for a large disturbance to occur, allowing them sufficient light to regenerate. In areas where large amounts of forest are destroyed, such as by logging, kauri seedlings are able to regenerate much more easily due not only to increased sunlight, but their relatively strong resistance to wind and frosts. Kauri occupy the emergent layer of
2664-480: A tug of war effect where kauri retreats uphill during periods of calm, then takes over lower areas briefly during mass disturbances. Although such trends cannot be observed in a human lifetime, research into current patterns of distribution, behavior of species in experimental conditions, and study of pollen sediments (see palynology ) have helped shed light on the life history of kauri. Kauri seeds may generally be taken from mature cones in late March. Each scale on
2775-482: Is Phytophthora katsurae . The pathogen is believed to be spread on people's shoes or by mammals, particularly feral pigs. A collaborative response team has been formed to work on the disease. The team includes MAF Biosecurity , the Conservation Department , Auckland and Northland regional councils, Waikato Regional Council , and Bay of Plenty Regional Council. The team is charged with assessing
2886-557: Is Aotearoa . Use of Aotearoa to describe the North Island fell out of favour in the early 20th century, and it is now a collective Māori name for New Zealand as a whole. During the Last Glacial Period when sea levels were over 100 metres lower than present day levels, the North and South islands were connected by a vast coastal plain which formed at the South Taranaki Bight . During this period, most of
2997-410: Is a secondary (years 9–13) school with a roll of 765 as of August 2024. The school began as Helensville District High School in 1924, and changed its name to Kaipara College in 1959. Helensville Primary School is a full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 507 as of August 2024. It was founded in 1877. Tau Te Arohanoa Akoranga is a satellite campus of the state-integrated Kingsway School, offering
3108-411: Is equivalent to 8.7 annual rings per centimetre of core, said to be half the commonly quoted figure for growth rate. The same study found only a weak relationship between age and diameter. The growth of kauri in planted and second-growth natural forests has been reviewed and compared during the development of growth and yield models for the species. Kauri in planted forests were found to have up to 12 times
3219-400: Is important for kauri's survival as it competes with other species for space. Leaf litter and other decaying parts of a kauri decompose much more slowly than those of most other species. Besides its acidity, the plant also bears substances such as waxes and phenols , most notably tannins , that are harmful to microorganisms . This results in a large buildup of litter around the base of
3330-473: Is known as niche partitioning , and allows more than one species to occupy the same area. Those species which live alongside kauri include tawari , a montane broadleaf tree which is normally found in higher altitudes, where nutrient cycling is naturally slow. Kauri is found growing in its natural ecosystem north of 38°S latitude . Its southern limit stretches from the Kawhia Harbour in the west to
3441-419: Is one technique used by scientists to uncover the history of the tree's distribution, with stump kauri from peat swamps used for measurement. The coldest period in recent times occurred about 15,000 to 20,000 years ago, during which time kauri was apparently confined north of Kaitaia, near the northernmost point of the North Island, North Cape . Kauri requires a mean temperature of 17 °C or more for most of
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3552-414: Is such a conspicuous species, forest containing kauri is generally known as kauri forest , although kauri need not be the most abundant tree. In the warmer northern climate, kauri forests have a higher species richness than those found further south. Kauri even act as a foundation species that modify the soil under their canopy to create unique plant communities. Scottish botanist David Don described
3663-543: Is two kilometres (1.2 mi) to the north-west. The Kaipara River runs through the town and into the Kaipara Harbour to the north. Tāmaki Māori settled the southern Kaipara Harbour in the 13th or 14th centuries, drawn by the marine and forest resources. The upper reaches of the Kaipara River was the location of Te Tōangaroa , a portage where waka could be hauled between the Kaipara Harbour and
3774-418: Is very shallow, it also has several downwardly directed peg roots which anchor it firmly in the soil. Such a solid foundation is necessary to prevent a tree the size of a kauri from blowing over in storms and cyclones. The litter left by kauri is much more acidic than most trees, and as it decays similarly acidic compounds are liberated. In a process known as leaching , these acidic molecules pass through
3885-535: The Kahutara , one of the first migratory waka , and migrated north into the Kaipara Harbour. Ngāti Whātua traditions tell of the Māhuhu-ki-te-rangi migratory waka arriving at the Kaipara Harbour. Some of the crew members, including Rongomai, Mawete and Po, settled at Tāporapora , with the descendants of Toi , who already lived in the area. Tāporapora was a fertile sandy land that gradually eroded west of
3996-490: The 2018 census , and an increase of 570,957 people (17.6%) since the 2013 census . Of the total population, 733,893 people (19.3%) were aged under 15 years, 743,154 (19.5%) were 15 to 29, 1,721,427 (45.2%) were 30 to 64, and 609,534 (16.0%) were 65 or older. Ever since the conclusion of the Otago gold rush in the 1860s, New Zealand's European population growth has experienced a steady 'Northern drift' as population centres in
4107-580: The Kaipara Harbour and the Waitematā Harbour , via the Kaipara River and Kumeū River . Major settlements in the area were typically upland of the Kaipara River, due to the swampy ground immediately beside the river, and the Ohirangi wetlands ( Te Tareminga were used to trap moa in ancient times). Known traditional names for the area include Tungoutungou , which describes the meandering Kaipara River near Helensville, and further upstream near
4218-542: The Māori forest god , is the biggest existing kauri with a girth of 13.77 metres (45.2 feet), a trunk height of 17.68 metres (58.0 feet), a total height of 51.2 metres (168 feet) and a total volume including the crown of 516.7 cubic metres (18,250 cubic feet). Te Matua Ngahere, which means 'Father of the Forest', is smaller but stouter than Tane Mahuta, with a girth (circumference) of 16.41 m (53.8 ft). Important note: all
4329-742: The Rodney Local Board . It is a part of the Rodney ward , which elects one councillor to the Auckland Council. Below is a list of the 18 people who served as the chairman of the Helensville Town Board, the longest of whom was Charles S. West, who served from 1922 to 1924, and again from 1929 to 1938. The final chairman, Reg Screaton, became the first Mayors of the Helensville Borough in 1947. During
4440-539: The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840, Ngāti Whātua operated coastal trading vessels, supplying goods to early European settlers at Auckland . Large areas of the southern Kaipara harbour were purchased by the Crown between 1853 and 1865, in part due to Ngāti Whātua's hope that this would lead to Europeans settlements developing and stimulate the economy of the area. In 1862, Nova Scotian settler John McLeod established
4551-491: The Waitematā Harbour . By the 15th century, the area had become home to some of the earliest pā sites in the Auckland Region . By the early 18th century, Ngāti Whātua , who had traditional ties to the area, had re-established themselves along the Kaipara River. Helensville was established as a kauri logging settlement in 1862, developing into a regional centre for the south Kaipara by the 1870s. Helensville became
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4662-475: The Waitākere Ranges near Auckland, and Coromandel Forest Park on the Coromandel Peninsula . The importance of Waipoua Forest in relation to the kauri was that it remained the only kauri forest retaining its former virgin condition, and that it was extensive enough to give reasonable promise of permanent survival. On 2 July 1952 an area of over 80 km of Waipoua was proclaimed a forest sanctuary after
4773-652: The Woodhill Forest was established on the Te Korowai-o-Te-Tonga Peninsula , becoming an important industry for the area. During World War II , the 15th Battalion of the Home Guard was based at Helensville. The dairy factory closed in the late 1980s, due to a decline in farming profitability in the area. The sand extraction industry became a major employer in the town, after Mt Rex and Winstone established processing facilities near
4884-473: The kererū (native pigeon). However, kauri trees can produce seeds while relatively young, taking only 50 years or so before giving rise to their own offspring. This trait makes them somewhat like a pioneer species , despite the fact that their long lifespan is characteristic of K-selected species. In good conditions, where access to water and sunlight are above average, diameters in excess of 15 centimetres and seed production can occur inside 15 years. Just as
4995-408: The organic litter near the surface of the soil through fine root hairs . This layer of the soil is composed of organic matter derived from falling leaves and branches as well as dead trees, and is constantly undergoing decomposition . On the other hand, broadleaf trees such as māhoe derive a good fraction of their nutrition in the deeper mineral layer of the soil. Although its feeding root system
5106-550: The 13th or 14th centuries. Māori legends describe supernatural beings, the Tūrehu , as being the inhabitants of the area prior to Māori settlement. The Kaipara Harbour is associated with the Tūrehu Tumutumuwhenua and his wife Kui, of whom Ngāti Whātua (the modern-day iwi of the harbour) consider to be ancestors. One of the earliest known iwi to settled in the area are Te Tini o Maruiwi, who descend from Maruiwi, captain of
5217-629: The 42-year existence of Helensville Borough Council, it had eight mayors: From 1978 until 2020, Helensville was in the Helensville general electorate. In 2020, this electorate was replaced by the Kaipara ki Mahurangi electorate. Helensville is within the Te Tai Tokerau Māori electorate . Formerly a forestry or dairy centre, Helensville is increasingly becoming a dormitory suburb of Auckland with an increasing number of lifestyle blocks in
5328-601: The Helensville Bridge was known as Te Pu a Tangihua . Over time, many Tāmaki Māori developed the tribal identity Ngā Oho . Around the 15th century, a group known as Ngāti Awa who descended from the Mātaatua waka settled Te Korowai-o-Te-Tonga Peninsula , led by Tītahi. The iwi were prominent constructors of terraced pā . Over 18 pā sites can be found in the Helensville area, which likely represent some of
5439-638: The Helensville Town Board was formed to administer the area, within the Waitemata County. In 1947, Helensville split from the country to form an independent borough. In 1989, the borough merged with Rodney County , forming the Rodney District Council . Rodney District Council was amalgamated into Auckland Council in November 2010. Within the Auckland Council, Helensville is a part of the Rodney local government area governed by
5550-542: The Kaipara Dairy Company was established in Helensville, becoming the town's largest employer, and the town flourished due to the dairy industry and sheep farms. Additionally, tourists were drawn to Helensville in the early 20th century, due to the Parakai thermal springs. In 1927, St Matthew's Anglican Church was rebuilt after a new larger church was required. During the 1930s, an exotic pine forest called
5661-560: The Kaipara River at Helensville. Helensville is located on the eastern banks of the Kaipara River , to the south of the Kaipara Harbour . The town is located between two tributaries of the river: the Awaroa Stream to the north, and the Mangakura Stream in the south. The town is located on a spur in the hills slightly higher than the surrounding area, of which the highest point is a 182 m (597 ft) hill located to
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#17327973445065772-500: The North Island and its adjacent islands and territorial waters. Healthcare in the North Island is provided by fifteen District Health Boards (DHBs) . Organised around geographical areas of varying population sizes, they are not coterminous with the Local Government Regions . Agathis australis Agathis australis , or kauri , is a coniferous tree in the family Araucariaceae , found north of 38°S in
5883-402: The North Island have grown faster than those of New Zealand's South Island. This population trend has continued into the twenty-first century, but at a much slower rate. While the North Island's population continues to grow faster than the South Island, this is solely due to the North Island having higher natural increase (i.e. births minus deaths) and international migration; since the late 1980s,
5994-566: The North Island is named New Ulster (named after Ulster province in northern Ireland) which was also a province of New Zealand that included the North Island. In 2009 the New Zealand Geographic Board found that, along with the South Island, the North Island had no official name. After a public consultation, the board officially named it North Island, or the aforementioned Te Ika-a-Māui, in October 2013. In prose,
6105-586: The North Island was covered in thorn scrubland and forest , while the modern-day Northland Peninsula was a subtropical rainforest . Sea levels began to rise 7,000 years ago, eventually separating the islands and linking the Cook Strait to the Tasman Sea . The North Island has an estimated population of 4,077,800 as of June 2024. The North Island had a population of 3,808,005 at the 2023 New Zealand census , an increase of 213,453 people (5.9%) since
6216-529: The North Island. From north to south, they are Whangārei , Auckland , Hamilton , Tauranga , Rotorua , Gisborne , New Plymouth , Napier , Hastings , Whanganui , Palmerston North , and New Zealand's capital city Wellington , which is located at the south-west tip of the island. The island has been known internationally as the North Island for many years. The Te Reo Māori name for it, Te Ika-a-Māui , also has official recognition but it remains seldom used by most residents. On some 19th-century maps,
6327-501: The Okahukura Peninsula, of which Manukapua Island is a remnant. People were drawn to the southern Kaipara Harbour due to its rich resources from the harbour and surrounding kauri -dominated forests. Based on archaeological findings, many of the earliest people to come to the area caught moa . The southern Kaipara was an important transportation node due to Te Tōangaroa , a portage where waka could be hauled between
6438-485: The Tāmaki Māori tribes, including Ngā Oho of the south Kaipara and West Auckland . After an incident where Maki unsuccessfully asked a slave steal kūmara from Hauparoa's storage pits, Maki attacked Ngāti Awa. Over time, Maki's descendants became known as Te Kawerau ā Maki ; a name that references the kūmara incident. Maki chose the southern Kaipara as his base of operations, and his children migrated to different areas of
6549-482: The Waipoua forest and was until that time, essentially unlogged (Adams, 1980). The plan also involved considerable cost, requiring a long road to be driven up a steep high plateau into the heart of the protected area. Because the stands of kauri were dense, the ecological destruction in the affected plateau area (approximately a fifth of the forest by area, and a quarter by volume of timber) was essentially complete (as of
6660-485: The Waitākere Ranges settlements became known as Te Raupatu Tīhore, or the stripping conquest. Lasting peace between Te Kawerau ā Maki and Ngāti Whātua was forged by Maki's grandson Te Au o Te Whenua, who fixed the rohe (border) between Muriwai Beach and Rangitōpuni ( Riverhead ). Ngāti Whātua divided the land among different hapū , including Te Taoū , who were a major power in the Kaipara River catchment. Around
6771-478: The absence of branches for much of its height. Kauri crown and stump wood was much appreciated for its beauty, and was sought after for ornamental wood panelling as well as high-end furniture. Although not as highly prized, the light colour of kauri trunk wood made it also well-suited for more utilitarian furniture construction, as well as for use in the fabrication of cisterns, barrels, bridge construction material, fences, moulds for metal forges, large rollers for
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#17327973445066882-498: The actions of the demigod Māui . Māui and his brothers were fishing from their canoe (the South Island) when he caught a great fish and pulled it right up from the sea. While he was not looking, his brothers fought over the fish and chopped it up. This great fish became the North Island, and thus a Māori name for the North Island is Te Ika-a-Māui ("The Fish of Māui"). The mountains and valleys are believed to have been formed as
6993-407: The area of kauri forest standing before 1000AD was destroyed by about 1900, it is not surprising that recent records are of smaller, but still very large trees. Two large kauri fell during tropical storms in the 1970s. One of these was Toronui , in Waipoua Forest. Its diameter was larger than that of Tāne Mahuta and its clean bole larger than that of Te Matua Ngahere , and by forestry measurements
7104-581: The area. There is some economic benefit from the wine producing region around Kumeū , 20 km to the south. The principal tourist attraction is the hot springs at nearby Parakai . Helensville has its own locally produced monthly newspaper, the Helensville News . The township is in the North West Country Inc business improvement district zone which represents businesses from Kaukapakapa to Riverhead . Kaipara College
7215-441: The balance was used locally to build houses and ships. Much of the timber was sold for a return sufficient only to cover wages and expenses. From 1871 to 1895 the receipts indicate a rate of about 8 shillings (around NZ$ 20 in 2003) per 100 superficial feet (34 shillings/m ). The Government continued to sell large areas of kauri forests to sawmillers who, under no restrictions, took the most effective and economical steps to secure
7326-450: The base of the trunk. On large trees it may pile up to a height of 2 m or more. The kauri has a habit of forming small clumps or patches scattered through mixed forests. Kauri leaves are 3 to 7 cm long and 1 cm broad, tough and leathery in texture, with no midrib; they are arranged in opposite pairs or whorls of three on the stem. The seed cones are globose, 5 to 7 cm diameter, and mature 18 to 20 months after pollination;
7437-464: The central North Island. The outcry over the Warawara was an important stepping stone towards the legal protection of the small percentage of remaining virgin kauri-podocarp forest in New Zealand's Government-owned forests. Although today its use is far more restricted, in the past the size and strength of kauri timber made it a popular wood for construction and ship building , particularly for masts of sailing ships because of its parallel grain and
7548-464: The complete absence of disturbance, kauri tends to become rare as it is excluded by its competitors. Kauri biomass tends to decrease during such times, as more biomass becomes concentrated in angiosperm species like tōwai . Kauri trees also tend to become more randomly distributed in age, with each tree dying at a different point in time, and regeneration gaps becoming rare and sporadic. Over thousands of years these varying regeneration strategies produce
7659-514: The earliest fortified pā in Auckland. Ōtakanini pā, located near Parkhurst northwest of Helensville, has been dated to at least 1400AD. By the mid-17th century, Ngāti Awa and Ngā Oho struggled to control territory. A descendant of Tītahi, Hauparoa, asked his relative Maki, a renowned warrior who lived at the Kāwhia Harbour , to help Ngāti Awa secure the region. Maki conquered and unified many of
7770-409: The early 1840s as 22 metres in circumference and 24 metres to the first branches. It was recorded as being killed by lightning in that period. Another huge tree, Kairaru , had a girth of 20.1 metres and a columnar trunk free of branches for 30.5 metres as measured by a Crown Lands ranger, Henry Wilson, in 1860. It was on a spur of Mt Tutamoe about 30 km south of Waipoua Forest near Kaihau. It
7881-554: The early 1990s most of the affected area contained a thick covering of native grasses with little or no kauri regeneration). Logging was stopped in fulfillment of an election pledge by the Labour Government of 1972. When the National Party was reelected in 1975, the ban on kauri logging in the Warawara remained in place, but was soon replaced by policies encouraging the logging of giant tōtara and other podocarps in
7992-436: The eastern Kaimai Range . However, its distribution has changed greatly over geological time because of climate change . This is shown in the recent Holocene epoch by its migration southwards after the peak of the last ice age . During this time when frozen ice sheets covered much of the world's continents, kauri was able to survive only in isolated pockets, its main refuge being in the very far north. Radiocarbon dating
8103-410: The entire southern Kaipara area had been alienated from Ngāti Whātua, and only 10% of their traditional rohe had been retained. The Kauri logging and gum industries went into decline by 1900, disappearing by 1920. The Helensville Show, an annual agricultural show , was established in 1900, becoming a major part of life at Helensville, and drawing people from the surrounding areas to the town. In 1911,
8214-565: The expense of cutting and removing it to the mills was typically great due to the difficult terrain where they were located. Probably the most controversial kauri logging decision in the last century was that of the National Government to initiate clear fell logging of the Warawara state forest (North of the Hokianga) in the late 1960s. This created a national outcry as this forest contains the second largest volume of kauri after
8325-402: The forest, where they are exposed to the effects of the weather; however, the smaller trees that dominate the main canopy are sheltered both by the emergent trees above and by each other. Left in open areas without protection, these smaller trees are far less capable of regenerating. When there is a disturbance severe enough to favour their regeneration, kauri trees regenerate en masse, producing
8436-402: The form of a narrow cone with branches going out along the length of the trunk . However, as it gains in height, the lowest branches are shed, preventing vines from climbing. By maturity, the top branches form an imposing crown that stands out over all other native trees, dominating the forest canopy . The flaking bark of the kauri tree defends it from parasitic plants, and accumulates around
8547-660: The internal migration flow has been from the North Island to the South Island. In the year to June 2020, the North Island gained 21,950 people from natural increase and 62,710 people from international migration, while losing 3,570 people from internal migration. At the 2023 census, 63.1% of North Islanders identified as European ( Pākehā ), 19.8% as Māori , 10.6% as Pacific peoples , 19.3% as Asian , 1.9% as Middle Eastern/Latin American/African, and 1.1% as other ethnicities. Percentages add to more than 100% as people can identify with more than one ethnicity. Māori form
8658-401: The kauri timber industry and kauri gum collection. In 1865, the road from Riverhead to Helensville was improved, and pastoral farms were developed in the 1870s. By 1870, Helensville had become the main trading centre and transportation junction for the Kaipara Harbour settlements to the north. From 1875 to 1881, a short-lived section of railway operated between Kumeū , south of Helensville, and
8769-522: The larger but less populous South Island by Cook Strait . With an area of 113,729 km (43,911 sq mi), it is the world's 14th-largest island , constituting 43% of New Zealand's land area. It has a population of 4,077,800 (June 2024), which is 76% of New Zealand's residents, making it the most populous island in Polynesia and the 28th-most-populous island in the world. Twelve main urban areas (half of them officially cities) are in
8880-473: The late 18th century. Conflict continued through the early 19th century, and in 1818 English missionary Samuel Marsden witnessed Ngāti Whātua of the Kaipara River being attacked from the north. Following the battle of Te Ika a Ranganui at Kaiwaka , Ngāti Whātua fled the area, except for a small contingent who remained for ahi kā (visible land occupation). Ngāti Whātua began returning to the Kaipara River from 1828, and were fully re-established by 1835. After
8991-591: The majority in three districts of the North Island: Kawerau (63.2%), Ōpōtiki (66.2%) and Wairoa (68.5%). Europeans formed the plurality in the Auckland region (49.8%) and are the majority in the remaining 39 districts. The proportion of North Islanders born overseas at the 2018 census were 29.3%. The most common foreign countries of birth were England (15.4% of overseas-born residents), Mainland China (11.3%), India (10.1%), South Africa (5.9%), Australia (5.5%) and Samoa (5.3%). The North Island has
9102-409: The measurements above were taken in 1971. Kauri is common as a specimen tree in parks and gardens throughout New Zealand, prized for the distinctive look of young trees, its low maintenance once established (although seedlings are frost tender). Kauri dieback was observed in the Waitākere Ranges caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi in the 1950s, again on Great Barrier Island in 1972 linked to
9213-528: The niche of kauri is differentiated through its interactions with the soil, it also has a separate regeneration 'strategy' compared to its broadleaf neighbours. The relationship is very similar to the podocarp-broadleaf forests further south. Kauri demand much more light and require larger gaps to regenerate than such broadleaf trees as pūriri and kohekohe that show far more shade tolerance . Unlike kauri, these broadleaf species can regenerate in areas where lower levels of light reach ground level, for example from
9324-466: The northern and western Auckland Region. In the 17th and early 18th centuries, Ngāti Whātua tribes began returning to the southern Kaipara Harbour area from Northland , primarily on the waka Te Potae o Wahieroa and Te Wharau. Initially relations between the iwi were friendly, and many important marriages were made. Hostilities broke out and Ngāti Whātua asked for assistance from Kāwharu , a famed Tainui warrior from Kawhia. Kāwharu's repeated attacks of
9435-516: The northern regions of New Zealand's North Island . It is the largest (by volume) but not tallest species of tree in New Zealand, standing up to 50 m tall in the emergent layer above the forest's main canopy. The tree has smooth bark and small narrow leaves. Other common names to distinguish A. australis from other members of Agathis are southern kauri and New Zealand kauri . With its podsolization capability and regeneration pattern it can compete with faster growing angiosperms . Because it
9546-417: The original kauri survived. By the 1950s this area had decreased to about 1,400 square kilometres in 47 forests depleted of their best kauri. It is estimated that today, there is 4 per cent of uncut forest left in small pockets. Estimates are that around half of the timber was accidentally or deliberately burnt. More than half of the remainder had been exported to Australia, Britain, and other countries, while
9657-459: The second highest of any forest type recorded anywhere in the world. The estimated total carbon capture is up to nearly 1000 tonnes per hectare. In this capacity, kauri are bettered only by mature Eucalyptus regnans forest, and are far higher than any tropical or boreal forest type yet recorded. It is also conjectured that the process of carbon capture does not reach equilibrium, which along with no need of direct maintenance, makes kauri forests
9768-628: The seed cones disintegrate at maturity to release winged seeds , which are then dispersed by the wind. A single tree produces both male and female seed cones. Fertilisation of the seeds occurs by pollination , which may be driven by the same or another tree's pollen. Agathis australis can attain heights of 40 to 50 metres and trunk diameters big enough to rival Californian sequoias at over 5 metres. The largest kauri trees did not attain as much height or girth at ground level but contain more timber in their cylindrical trunks than comparable Sequoias with their tapering stems. The largest recorded specimen
9879-405: The seed cones of the trees often survive together with the trunk, although when excavated and exposed to the air, these parts undergo rapid deterioration. The quality of the disinterred wood varies. Some is in good shape, comparable to that of newly felled kauri, although often lighter in colour. The colour can be improved by the use of natural wood stains to heighten the details of the grain. After
9990-442: The soil layers with the help of rainfall, and release other nutrients trapped in clay such as nitrogen and phosphorus . This leaves these important nutrients unavailable to other trees, as they are washed down into deeper layers. This process is known as podsolization , and changes the soil colour to a dull grey. For a single tree, this leaves an area of leached soil beneath known as a cup podsol ( de ). This leaching process
10101-405: The south called Paehoka, at the junction between Kiwitahi Road and Old North Road. The area has traditionally been a wetland and flood plain for the Kaipara River, until the late 19th century when the Kaipara River catchment was developed into farmland. Historically, the hills to the east of Helensville were a kauri -dominated forest. The Auckland Region has been settled by Māori since around
10212-458: The species as Dammara australis . Agathis is derived from Greek and means 'ball of twine', a reference to the shape of the male cones, which are also known by the botanical term strobili . Australis translates in English to 'southern'. The Māori name is descended from Proto-Polynesian *kauquli , Samoan ebony or Diospyros samoensis . The young plant grows straight upwards and has
10323-491: The survivors south to the pā at Te Mākiri (Te Awaroa / Helensville), confronting Tuperiri and Waha-akiaki, two prominent members of Te Taoū who managed to survive. By 1741, Ngāti Whātua had successfully fought against Kiwi Tāmaki , and members of Te Taoū established themselves on the Auckland isthmus. An early skirmish between Te Taoū and Ngāpuhi during the Musket Wars occurred at Paehoka, south of Helensville, likely in
10434-476: The textile industry, railway sleepers and cross bracing for mines and tunnels. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries Kauri gum (semi-fossilised kauri resin ) was a valuable commodity, particularly for varnish , spurring the development of a gum-digger industry. Today, the kauri is being considered as a long-term carbon sink . This is because estimates of the total carbon content in living above ground biomass and dead biomass of mature kauri forest are
10545-411: The timber, resulting in much waste and destruction. At a sale in 1908 more than 5,000 standing kauri trees, totalling about 20,000,000 superficial feet (47,000 m ), were sold for less than £2 per tree (£2 in 1908 equates to around NZ$ 100 in 2003). It is said that in 1890 the royalty on standing timber fell in some cases to as low as twopence (NZ$ 0.45 in 2003) per 100 superficial feet (8 pence/m ), though
10656-479: The top of slopes to nutrient rich soils below. As nutrients leached are replaced by aqueous nitrates and phosphates from above, the kauri tree is less able to inhibit the growth of strong competitors such as angiosperms. In contrast, the leaching process is only enhanced on higher elevation. In Waipoua Forest this is reflected in higher abundances of kauri on ridge crests, and greater concentrations of its main competitors, such as tarairi , at low elevations. This pattern
10767-410: The town in the 1990s. In 2009, the Helensville railway station was closed for passenger services. Helensville covers 4.05 km (1.56 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 3,420 as of June 2024, with a population density of 844 people per km. Before the 2023 census, Helensville had a smaller boundary, covering 3.37 km (1.30 sq mi). Using that boundary, Helensville had
10878-446: The two main islands of New Zealand are called the North Island and the South Island , with the definite article. It is also normal to use the preposition in rather than on , for example "Hamilton is in the North Island", "my mother lives in the North Island". Maps, headings, tables, and adjectival expressions use North Island without "the". According to Māori mythology , the North and South Islands of New Zealand arose through
10989-417: The village of Riverhead , on the upper shores of the Waitematā Harbour . This led to increased economic activity in Helensville, which developed into a township and became an economic hub. In 1881, the North Auckland Line was extended to Helensville, leading to the opening of the Helensville railway station . In 1879, St Matthew's Anglican Church was established in Helensville. This was the first church in
11100-495: The volume productivity than those in natural stands at the same age. Individuals in the same 10 cm diameter class may vary in age by 300 years, and the largest individual on any particular site is often not the oldest. Trees can normally live longer than 600 years. Many individuals probably exceed 1000 years, but there is no conclusive evidence that trees can exceed 2000 years in age. By combining tree ring samples from living kauri, wooden buildings, and preserved swamp wood,
11211-483: The wider southern Kaipara area, serving the surrounding rural communities such as Kumeū and Waimauku . In 1882, the first bridge across the Kaipara River was constructed at Te Horo Point, with the intention of this opening up farmland to the west. Between 1865 and 1900, the Native Land Court individuated collectively-owned Ngāti Whātua lands, a gradual process which led to land alienation. By 1900, almost
11322-463: The year 1740, war broke out between Ngāti Whātua and Waiohua , the confederation of Tāmaki Māori tribes centred to the southeast, on the Tāmaki isthmus . Kiwi Tāmaki , paramount chief of Waiohua, led a surprise attack in the south Kaipara during an uhunga (funeral rite commemoration), in response for past grievances and to assist a Ngāti Whātua faction who were opposed to Te Taoū. Kiwi Tāmaki's party pursued
11433-643: The year. The tree's retreat can be used as a proxy for temperature changes during this period. While not present in modern days, the Aupōuri Peninsula in the far north was a refuge for kauri, as large quantities of kauri gum were present in the soils. It remains unclear whether kauri recolonised the North Island from a single refuge in the far north or from scattered pockets of isolated stands that managed to survive despite climatic conditions. It spread south through Whangārei , past Dargaville and as far south as Waikato , attaining its peak distribution during
11544-594: The years 3000 BP to 2000 BP. There is some suggestion that it has receded somewhat since then, which may indicate temperatures have declined slightly. During the peak of its movement southwards, it was travelling as fast as 200 metres per year. Its southward spread seems relatively rapid for a tree that can take a millennium to reach complete maturity. This can be explained by its life history pattern. Kauri relies on wind for pollination and seed dispersal , while many other native trees have their seeds carried large distances by frugivores (animals which eat fruit) such as
11655-446: Was $ 31,600, compared with $ 31,800 nationally. 339 people (15.8%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,065 (49.7%) people were employed full-time, 327 (15.2%) were part-time, and 87 (4.1%) were unemployed. Helensville Rural statistical area surrounds the settlement and covers 56.41 km (21.78 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 1,650 as of June 2024, with
11766-486: Was $ 40,100, compared with $ 31,800 nationally. 300 people (24.6%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 672 (55.2%) people were employed full-time, 180 (14.8%) were part-time, and 42 (3.4%) were unemployed. From 1876 until 1947, Helensville was administered by the Waitemata County , a large rural county north and west of the city of Auckland. In 1883,
11877-459: Was 17.8, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.3% had no religion, 30.2% were Christian, 2.0% had Māori religious beliefs , 0.9% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 2.3% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 330 (15.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 435 (20.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income
11988-442: Was 21.7, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 61.6% had no religion, 28.3% were Christian, 0.8% had Māori religious beliefs , 0.2% were Muslim, 0.4% were Buddhist and 2.4% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 225 (18.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 195 (16.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income
12099-576: Was destroyed in the 1880s or 1890s when a series of huge fires swept the area. Other trees far larger than living kauri have been noted in other areas. Rumors of stumps up to 6 metres are sometimes suggested in areas such as the Billygoat Track above the Kauaeranga Valley near Thames. However, there is no good evidence for these (e.g., a documented measurement or a photograph with a person for scale). Given that over 90 per cent of
12210-649: Was known as The Great Ghost and grew in the mountains at the head of the Tararu Creek , which drains into the Hauraki Gulf just north of the mouth of the Waihou River (Thames). Thames Historian Alastair Isdale says the tree was 8.54 metres in diameter, and 26.83 metres in girth. It was consumed by fire c.1890. A kauri tree at Mill Creek, Mercury Bay , known as Father of the Forests was measured in
12321-592: Was the largest standing. Another tree, Kopi, in Omahuta Forest near the standing Hokianga kauri, was the third largest with a height of 56.39 metres (185') and a diameter of 4.19 metres (13.75'). It fell in 1973. Like many ancient kauri both trees were partly hollow. In general over the lifetime of the tree the growth rate tends to increase, reach a maximum, then decline. A 1987 study measured mean annual diameter increments ranging from 1.5 to 4.6 mm per year with an overall average of 2.3 mm per year. This
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