Tutamoe Explained

Tutamoe
Photo Alt:Tutamoe as seen from the south
Elevation M:770
Native Name Lang:mi

Tutamoe is the second highest mountain in Northland, New Zealand, with a height of 770m (2,530feet).[1] [2] It is located in the Kaihu Forest, approximately 20 kilometres north of Dargaville.[3] [4] [5]

Historically, the slopes of Tutamoe were densely forested with kauri trees (Agathis australis).[6] [7] The eastern slopes of Tutamoe were home to the largest kauri tree, Kairaru, having a circumference of 20 m and being 30.5 m to the first branches, double the size of Tāne Mahuta.[8] [9] Kairaru was lost to a fire in the late 1880s.[10]

The mountain's soils, primarily composed of soft sedimentary material, provide ideal conditions for kauri trees to establish deep root systems and access moisture during the summer months. Additionally, basalt rocks, originating from the ancient Waipoua volcano, are abundant on the slopes.[11] These mineral-rich rocks contribute to the fertility of the soil over time, creating favourable growing conditions. Many of the large kauri trees that remain today are found in areas with deep, fertile soils.

According to Māori mythology, Tutamoe is the guardian of the tribes in the area surrounding present-day Dargaville.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Getting high in Northland: A peak-bagger's guide to the North's 10 highest mountains . Ramblings. 28 April 2021 .
  2. Web site: Mount Tutamoe Track .
  3. Web site: Tutamoe, Northland . NZ Topo Map.
  4. Web site: Tutamoe . Places in the World.
  5. Web site: Tutamoe, New Zealand . Peakbagger.com.
  6. Web site: Te Raupua and Tutamoe: Climbing Northland's highest peaks . The New Zealand Herald. 19 January 2021 .
  7. Web site: Grant . Simon . The Memory Tree . NZ Geo . 21 October 2024.
  8. Book: Miller . Nigel . Natural areas of Tutamoe Ecological District: Reconnaissance survey report for the Protected Natural Areas Programme . Holland . Wendy . 2008 . Department of Conservation . . 15–16.
  9. Book: Hutchins, D. E. (David Ernest) . New Zealand forestry. Part 1, Kauri forests and forests of the north and forest management . 1919 . Wellington, NZ : Dept. of Forestry . Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira . 42–43.
  10. Web site: NR/1737 . 2024-10-24 . The New Zealand Tree Register.
  11. Book: Hayward . Bruce W. . Out of the ocean, into the fire: history in the rocks, fossils and landforms of Auckland, Northland and Coromandel . Jamieson . Alastair . Morley . Margaret S. . 2017 . Geoscience Society of New Zealand . 978-0-473-39596-4 . Geoscience Society of New Zealand miscellaneous publication . Wellington, New Zealand . 165.
  12. Web site: Taonui . Rāwiri . Ngāpuhi . Te Ara — the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.

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