The benefits of planting trees – MPI profiles the Tawa tree

Tu Uru Rākau, the New Zealand Forest Service, part of the Ministry for Primary Industries, is publishing a “Tree of the Month” series as part of their role of highlighting and encouraging the benefits of planting trees both for harvesting and biodiversity reasons.  

A considerable part of the Motueka catchment is in pine forest (around 28 %) and pine are currently the tree of choice for large scale commercial forestry. However, pines aren’t the only trees that can be grown commercially, particularly on smaller scale forestry lots. Growing natives, and other non-native alternatives to pine, can be a great alternative to growing and harvesting pine. And if done in combination with low-impact harvesting methods, can provide considerable benefits to land and water management, reducing sediment yield, protecting top soil, and increasing biodiversity.  

Planting trees can be a good option for farmers wanting to retire some of their pasture land, or diversify their rural production, or owners of rural land deciding what land use to look into to meet their goals. Read this resource on why plant trees on farms – https://www.canopy.govt.nz/plan-forest/why-plant-trees/farms/  

The first short guide MPI have produced is about the tawa tree. We’ve added this to MCC’s resources page on our website, under Forestry resources.

Some key facts about tawa: 

• Tawa are mostly found in the North Island, but are also found right at the top of the South Island  

• In its natural habitat, tawa often grows with podocarp such as rimu, matai and kahikatea.  

• Tawa seed are carried by kererū, the berries being their favourite food 

• Tawa can grow up to 1000 years old, and 35 metres tall! 

• Tawa wood has a white to pale brown hue, with fine texture and straight grain, and can be used for flooring, wood turning, joinery, or furniture.  

As Susan Moore-Lavo senior advisor in Forest Service Advice, at MPI, and also local resident in the Moutere says: 

“Tawa isn’t really common in our region as it likes it wet.  But there is tawa in Nelson, and elsewhere in the top of the south from Cape Farewell east to Marlborough. So, while its not commonly grown here, and most likely would struggle a bit (I have some hanging on at my place) they are nevertheless part of our ecosystems and an important part at that.  So even if we can’t grow it easily, we can appreciate it. ”  

So it may be that tawa isn’t the best tree to choose to plant in the Motueka catchment. However, if you’ve got a wet spot of land, it might do well. Further guidance notes will also be produced by MPI about other trees suitable to grow for harvesting and/or biodiversity benefits in the Motueka catchment. The next guide up is the kahikatea so watch this space!  

Here’s a link to the Canopy webpage with lots of information about planting trees - Discover the benefits of trees | Canopy