Kawau Island Flora
Early History
Te Kawau-tu-Maro, named after the Maori name for the motionless shag, was known to the
Maori for 700 years prior to European occupation. The island is thought to have remained
relatively unmodified during that time. Now, the shags have gone, and the native bush that once
covered the low hilly slopes has been replaced by an amazing variety of vegetation. Exotic trees
from different climates grow harmoniously with the native species of New Zealand. The major
changes to the land first began when the Cornish miners came to Kawau after the discovery of
manganese and copper in the early 1840s. They brought with them not only livestock but also
seeds and plants. Small areas were cultivated and some of the bush was converted to pasture.
Sir George Grey’s Era
Sir George Grey purchased Kawau in 1862 and poured all of his energy, effort and fortune into
this 2000 hectare island. He was an enthusiastic collector of exotic plants and keenly interested
in their acclimatisation, he obtained seeds and cuttings from noted botanists all over the world.
Even today, more than a century later, Kawau has one of the oddest mixtures of plants found
anywhere in New Zealand.
Mansion House Gardens. Exotic species planted by Sir George Grey can be seen in the present day garden.
The following are but a few of the plants introduced by Sir George Grey during his 26 years
ownership of Kawau:
• Blue jacaranda, red gum, wattle and eucalyptus from Australia
• Silver fir from the slopes of Table Mountain, South Africa
• Oleander, cork tree, walnut and olive from the Mediterranean
• Oak from the USA and Europe
• Acer from Japan
• Elm of many different kind from Siberia, China and Britain
• Spider lily, bamboo and climbing plants from Fiji.
There were also plants from Africa, the Himalayas, New Guinea, Chile, India and many other
countries.
The New Zealand grapefruit was grown from a plant introduced by Sir George Grey, who named
it the “Poormans Orange” as it had heavy fruiting qualities. The first bud wood was given to Mr
Edward Morrison of Warkworth who developed the “Morrison Seedless” strain. In 1876 the
botanist John Buchanan reported:
On leaving the island from Momona Bay by steamer, the extreme beauty of the landscape is very
pleasing. Sir George Grey’s residence is surrounded by rare and beautiful shrubs. On the lawn
may be seen Erythrina caffra, the coral tree, covered with brilliant scarlet flowers. Fourcroyia
gigantean, a plant of the Amaryllis family, which grows well without any cultivation on the worst
clay hills. Musa textiles, the banana fibre tree from which the manilla fibre of commerce is
produced: Stilingia sebifera, the tallow tree used by the Japanese to manufacture candles;
Quercus suber, the cork tree…….”
Sir George also grew pomegranates, olives, Natal plums, figs, custard apples, St John brea,
loquats, mulberries, ginger, tea, coffee, oranges, citrons, liquorice, arrowroot and many different
nuts.
Tree ferns grow underneath a
canopy of radiate pine
Forest Flora
Unfortunately Sir George Grey did not foresee the impact the
fauna would have on his island. Buchanan’s “On the Botany of
Kawau” describes 348 species and varieties of indigenous plants,
of which few are left today. Wallabies, possums and agriculture
have eliminated possibly hundreds of native plant species. These
animals still have a major influence on the vegetation, resulting in
unpalatable species becoming dominant.
The major vegetation cover in the reserve (170 hectares) with the
exception of the Mansion House valley is provided by the fast
growing Radiata pine from California and the equally rapid
growing Pinaster pine which originates from North Africa and
Mediterranean regions. There are also substantial areas of
manuka and kanuka. The pines are apparently self sewn –
ascendants of the huge old specimens that were as shelter on the
original farm land.
Although most of Kawau has manuka/kanuka scrub cover, there are only two significant areas
that these species dominate – both on the eastern boundary of the park. Kanuka is distinguished
from manuka by its greater height, less rounded leaves and lack of pink coloration in the centre
of its white flowers. These two species provided the basis of a thriving export industry from
1868 to 1870, in 1908 and again in the 1930s and 1940s when they were cut and shipped to
Auckland for firewood.
One of the few reminders of the former native cover is the extensive under storey of tree fern in
parts of the forest. The ponga or silver tree fern is smaller and does not have the hexagonal trunk
scars of the mamaku or black tree fern. The other obvious difference is the silvery-white
underside of the fronds of the ponga. Other native plants which still exist in relative abundance
are the coastal pohutukawa, and karaka, puriri, kohekohe, taraire, and whau, survive on the more
exposed sites. There is a small area of mangrove forest in the stream estuary on the park’s
boundary at Schoolhouse Bay in Bon Accord Harbor.
Considerable areas of Kawau still display remnants of a once flourishing crop of arum lily.
These provided a useful source of income for some of the island families who sold them to
florists New Zealand wide. They may be seen in bloom in early winter.
The Redwood Track passes examples of other exotic species contributing to the forest cover,
including the redwood of south-western USA, the Australian bush cherry (now rapidly spreading
around the site of the old dairy cottage), huge microfarad specimens, and a stand of
predominantly black wattle behind Lady’s Bay. Several bunya-bunya pines are also found on
this route.
The future
The Department of Conservation is the current caretaker of the historic and recreational reserves
on Kawau Island (approximately 170 hectares of the 2000hectares that make up Kawau Island).
Restoration of the house and gardens as they would have been during Sir George Grey’s
occupation is a long term management goal. In 1999 the house exterior was painted, sections of
the roof re-tiled and remedial work carried out on the verandah and the wharf in Mansion House
Bay. In time, and with the appropriate funding, other parts of the house currently closed to the
public will be refurbished and opened for viewing.
A conservation plan has been drawn up for restoration of the gardens. Work has already begun
in accordance with this plan. Structures and buildings erected in Mansion House grounds after
Sir George Grey lived on Kawau have been removed. Although the knowledge is available to
make the gardens historically accurate, many of the plants are not. Varieties that appeared in the
catalogues of last century have been superseded by new varieties and hybrids. Rather than plant
inappropriate stock, the garden will gradually be filled with donated specimens from other old
gardens. Although by this method the garden will take many years to re-establish, it will
eventually reflect the garden content of Sir George Grey’s original gardens.
There are a number of old trees and shrubs which are either original Grey plantings or
descendants of them. Some of these are:
• Bunya-bunya Araucaria bawdily.
Australia: A large wide-spreading pyramidal tree which produces huge pineapple shaped
cones. Each segment of the cone has an edible pleasant tasting nut.
• Hoop pine Araucaria Cunningham.
New Guinea
• Norfolk Island pine Araucaria heterophylla
Norfolk Island
• Redwood Sequoia sempervirens
Western USA. A long-lived conifer and the world’s tallest tree. Redwoods of up to
2000years old and 340 feet tall have been recorded in Oregon and California, USA.
• Japanese Cedar Cryptomeria japonica
Japan
• Bloodwood Baloghia lucida
Norfolk Island
• Coral tree Erythrina caffra
South Africa. This is a large beautifully shaped tree which blooms profusely during
November and December. Its bare branches are covered with bright scarlet flowers
which gives way to foliage in early February.
• Giant bird of paradise Strelitzia nicolai.
South Africa. Tree like and has large leaves resembling those of the banana. Its flowers
are white but relatively inconspicuous unlike the beautiful orange and blue flower of the
common Strelitzia reginae.
• Bay laurel Laurus nolilis
Mediterranean region. It has several common names such as sweet bay, true bay and
Grecian laurel. The leaves are used for seasoning foods (bouquet garni) and oil extracted
from the purple-black berries is used to make perfume.
• Oleander Nerium oleander
Europe. Appropriately “oleander” means “beware” It is a poisonous plant and the
absorption of its juices has proved fatal.
• Chilean Wine Palm Jubaea spectabilis
Chile. Also known as coquito nut palm. This is perhaps the most famous exotic tree on
Kawau. Unfortunately in South America this unique and slow growing species has been
destroyed in large numbers to make palm syrup – honey. A whole tree, perhaps a century
old is felled. Over some months 200-400 litres of sap is obtained by repeatedly slicing
the trunk near the apex, but destruction of vegetation does not end with felling the palm.
Many other species are cut down for fuel to boil the syrup in large copper urns. This
palm is related to the coconut but its fruits are only 3-4 cm long – choquito nuts. In Chile
the nuts are sometimes fed to cattle for the outer juicy flesh. The clear nuts are then left
to dry, cracked open and sold at street stalls and shops to be used in baking.
• Moreton Bay Fig Ficus macrophylla
Australia. This enormous tree, with its roots bulging and surfacing around the trunk, can
spread 150 feet or more. It has inedible one inch figs.
• Holm oak Quercus ilex
Southern Europe. Its leaves resemble that of the holly, hence it’s other common name
holly oak. Owners acquire oak trees in either of two ways, they plant an acorn
themselves or let squirrels do it for them.
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