Kawau Island Flora

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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covered the low hilly slopes has been replaced by an amazing variety of vegetation.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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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.