21 August 2007

In the Steps of Jack Leigh

Chapter 17: Waitakere Nature Trail

(aka Arataki Nature Trail)

page 3

There is a canopy of tall kanuka just here. These can live for a hundred years, and take our understanding of what we call "scrub" just a little further.

Now we're heading uncompromisingly downhill and the public is warned.

There's a canopy of punga just here which is rather lovely.

An old kauri stump provides a nursery for a range of ferns, plants and even small trees.

Kahil Gibran. Great stuff. Very spiritual. How many ways does that name get spelled?

I again bristle somewhat at the suggestion that people, or their actions, are somehow "unnatural". Hmmm. Nice rendition of a weta, though.

Pittosporm tenuifolium.

Here's a mapau. Can you tell the difference?

This is another I'd welcome some help with. It's probably Coprosma arborea, but might be C. spathulata. They're very similar when young, though a mature C. arborea has much bigger leaves and is a much bigger tree generally.

Considering the number of young miro around, I see relatively few mature specimens.

And here's another educ ational opportunity. What does it have to say.

I have to confess I am not well-versed in Maori forest tradition, especially in respect of mythology. I do know, from my reading in Best and elsewhere that forest lore was historically a major part of Maori culture and ceremony, and rongoa (traditional Maori medicine) is very much involved with native plants. I would also have to confess that in five years or so of active tramping I can still count the number of Maori I have encountered tramping in the bush or in huts on the fingers of one hand. No Maori DOC or ARC rangers that I've met, either. Curious...

Maybe walking, tramping, is a pakeha practice. Maybe I'd need to look elsewhere to find Maori in relationship with the forest.

We spend a few minutes leaning against the rail in the lookout.

Miranda is enjoying the opportunity of a really stable base for the camera.

The railing around the lookout has of course attracted its fair share of graffiti. I'm impressed at the number of people who still carry pocket knves. I add my bit,

later on, using MSPaint.

We continue downhill.

and down

Just look at that.

We now head seriously down.

Where another noticeboard awaits. We pause for a moment to look past it to the kauri beyond.

It's big all right

and just keeps on going up.

There's been somebody up there with a chainsaw trimming dangerous branches.