A Family of Ancient Trees

A Family of Ancient Trees

A delegation community leaders from the Kaipara has laid the firm foundations of a unique relationship between New Zealand and Japan, based upon 'a family of ancient trees' – those of the Kauri forest here and the Sugi, or japanese cedar, on the island of Yakushima.

Kauri Museum Curator, Betty Nelley, Stephen King of Waipoua Forest Trust, Shane Lloyd of Copthorne Hokianga-Waipoua Footprints and Alex Nathan, representing Te Roroa, travelled to Yakushima, a World Heritage site, early last month.

The predominant island forest cover is Sugi and trees 1,000 years old are dubbed Yakusugi, and held in reverence by the local population.

“The purpose of this trip was primarily to establish contact and dialogue between the Kaitiaki of the Kauri and Yakusugi forests based on the kaupapa hononga rakau, or family of ancient trees,” said interim general manager of Te Roroa, Wayne Blisset.

“It was also to consult further with Tourism NZ staff in Japan, regarding opportunities for developing tourism, cultural and educational exchange opportunities not only for Te Roroa, but also the communities along the 'western corridor' and into Hokianga.

“The delegation members also explored the possibilities of establishing a relationship between The Kauri Museum and the Yakusugi Nature Museum and visited the ancient Japanese cedar trees, the largest and oldest of which is known as Jomon Sugi, and which is comparable in age and size to Tane Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere.

Alex Nathan, for Te Roroa,said all the key objectives of the delegation were achieved within the framework of a hectic schedule.

“The relationship between ourselves and the people of Yakushima is strengthening as the shared experiences and relationship to the environment and the trees becomes more evident and understood between us both,” he said.

He added that Tourism New Zealand is working with those involved “to develop an agreement that captures the essence of this relationship.

“The key principles are based on eco-tourism and ensuring that developments benefit local communities, contribute rather than take from the environment, and that protection and restoration of the environment is key to sustaining our communities.

“For without our unique environment we will be lost.”

Betty Nelley said work has already begun on arranging reciprocal displays, after her meeting with Mr Tessei Shiba, of Nature Museum.

“It was a fantastic experience and a very busy visit, as we were only on the island for three days – the rest was taken up by travelling. The visit to Jomon Sugi was in itself a 12 hour round trip, walking up through precipitous country, especially so for the last two hours of the journey. It was a rather spiritual experience to see the tree after such a journey. That's the only way I can really describe it.These ancient trees are located at the higher altitudes. Rainfall is high with 8000mm falling at sea level and 10,000mm at the cold temperate altitudes.

“For the whole visit we were completely immersed in traditional Japanese culture, staying at a Japanese inn.

ends

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