Date:  21 December 2024

The walking track to Tāne Mahuta in Waipoua Forest has been closed since 30 September 2024. The reopening comes just in time for the summer season and busy holiday period, allowing the public to reconnect with this treasured taonga.

Visitors can now enjoy Tāne Mahuta with new features that protect this irreplaceable tree and enrich the visitor experience. As part of the Rākau Rangatira project, the site now includes a specially designed raised boardwalk, bridge, and viewing platform, ensuring safer access while minimising environmental impact.

This reopening is a key milestone in the wider Rākau Rangatira project, a collaboration between Te Roroa and DOC to enhance forest health, protect kauri trees from dieback disease, and improve visitor experiences in Waipoua Forest.

Next steps in the project include:

• Ongoing monitoring and maintenance of biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of kauri dieback disease.
• Long-term forest health assessments to ensure Tāne Mahuta and surrounding kauri thrive for future generations.
• Further upgrades to visitor facilities and educational resources to foster a deeper understanding of kauri conservation.

“Tāne Mahuta is more than just a tree; he is a living ancestor, a sacred connection to our whakapapa and our atua. His health and survival are intertwined with the well-being of our people and the land. Seeing him protected and cared for gives us all great pride and hope for the future,” says Snow Tane, General Manager of Te Roroa.

Stephen Soole, Kauri Coast Operations Manager at DOC, expressed gratitude for the public’s patience and support during the closure.

“Tāne Mahuta holds a special place in the hearts of New Zealanders and visitors alike. We are proud to reopen this sacred site and invite everyone to visit respectfully, knowing their actions contribute to the preservation of this ancient forest,” says Stephen.

Visitors are reminded to follow biosecurity protocols during their visit, including using the wash stations provided, to protect Tāne Mahuta and the surrounding ecosystem.

For more information about Tāne Mahuta and the Rākau Rangatira project, please visit the DOC website.

Background information

About Tāne Mahuta

Tāne Mahuta currently attracts approximately 200,000 visitors per year and stands 51.5 metres tall, with a trunk diameter of 4.5 metres. It is estimated to be 1,500 years old.

According to Māori mythology, Tāne is the son of Ranginui the sky father and Papatūānuku the earth mother. Tāne was the child who separated his parents' embrace and then set about clothing his mother in the forest we see today. All living creatures of the forest are regarded as Tāne's children.

About kauri dieback disease

Phytophthora agathidicida (PA) is a soil-borne pathogen that infects Kauri trees through their roots. PA restricts the ability of kauri to transport water and nutrients between their roots and their leaves, causing the condition known as kauri dieback disease, which eventually starves the tree. 

PA could have devastating effects on New Zealand’s kauri forests. It has been found in Northland, Great Barrier Island, and the Coromandel Peninsula. There is no known cure, but we can help reduce its spread by avoiding any movement of soil around the roots of kauri trees. That means making sure we stick to the tracks and have spotlessly clean footwear and any gear that might touch the ground.

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