Waipoua Forest is a forest, on the west coast of the Northland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It preserves some of the best examples of kauri forest remaining in New Zealand. It is notable for having two of the largest living kauri trees, Tāne Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere.
The forest was declared a sanctuary in 1952. A community-based volunteer organisation, the Waipoua Forest Trust, helps maintain the forest. The sanctuary is bordered to the south by the 350 hectares (860 acres) Professor W.R McGregor Reserve, named after W. R. McGregor (1894–1977).[1] In the 1940s, McGregor, and others, successfully campaigned to end logging of the forest and to have it declared a sanctuary, a status it achieved in 1952.[2][3][4]
Today, the forest is a significant drawcard for visitors to Northland, with approximately 200,000 people visiting Tāne Mahuta every year.[5] This has led to concerns about the health of the forest and the spread of kauri dieback disease.[6] There are also easy walking tracks to Te Matua Ngahere and the Four Sisters, and a longer hiking track south leading past the 7th-largest kauri tree, the Yakas kauri.[7]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
NZNativewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ (Cooper & Cambie 1991, pp. 64)
- ^ (McGregor 1948, pp. 1)
- ^ "Waipoua Forest | How to Save a Forest book | About". Howtosaveaforest. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ Alicia Burrow (6 May 2015). "Kaipara leads the way in 'visitor' growth". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ "Kauri dieback in Waipoua Forest a 'tragedy' - scientist". Radio New Zealand. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ "Waipoua Forest: Places to go in Northland". Department of Conservation. Retrieved 23 November 2018.