Kauri: Witness to a Nation's History

by Joanna Orwin

Paperback

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Joanna Orwin is a writer of fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. Many of her books have been shortlisted for or have won awards, including Children's Book of the Year in 1985 and the Senior Fiction category of the New Zealand Post Book awards for Children and Young Adults in 2002. She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand. You can find out more about her on her website at https://www.joannaorwin.com.

Reviews

[Angelique Simonsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly interesting. The new edition has info about die back which this one doesn't as it wasn't really a problem then

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was interesting especially when it talks about the historical significance of the Kauri tree in New Zealand's North Island. I never knew the tree to have such an interesting story and had its place from the beginning of Pākehā settlement and how the Maori worshipped the trees until they realised the financial gain they could receive from felling. There is even debate about Kauri spars being used on the HMS Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar, which cant be confirmed. The story does end up with the conservation movement and their job to protect the forests from pests.
It is a great book to use to put family perspectives in place especially when they were involved with the felling of the giant trees that are only native to certain parts of New Zealand.

[Jur]

about the big Kauri trees of the New Zealand north island. It's role in Maori society and later the interaction between Maori and European settlers.

Immediately made me think about the role of the Red Cedar in Northwestern Pacific or the beaver.