Plant
Kahikatea
Dacrycarpus dacrydioidesAlso known as White Pine, Kahika
Kahikatea reigns as the tallest native tree in New Zealand, historically forming vast, dense swamp forests that cloaked lowland river valleys across the country. Buttressed trunks anchor these giants in waterlogged ground, where their root systems interlock beneath the silt to withstand gale-force winds. In autumn, female trees produce millions of bright red, fleshy receptacles that serve as an essential feast for native birds like the kererū, which disperse the seeds far across the landscape.
ConiferForest GiantAncient Tree
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPhotoautotrophic (absorbs sunlight, water, and soil nutrients)
ThreatsHistorical wetland clearance, habitat fragmentation, and altered hydrology
HabitatsLowland swamp forests, alluvial floodplains, and river terraces
Life span500–600 years
Classification
- FamilyPodocarpaceae
- SpeciesDacrycarpus dacrydioides
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe; wild fruits have toxic look-alikes, so never eat based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Viewing Stand: Visit boardwalk tracks in swamp forest remnants to avoid damaging fragile, waterlogged surface roots.
- Look Up: Search the high canopy in late summer and autumn to spot flocks of feeding native birds.
Seed Disperser (c) Christopher Stephens, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Christopher Stephens · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion (c) Jon Sullivan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Ben, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ben · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Jon Sullivan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jon Sullivan · cc-by
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