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Story: Conifer–broadleaf forests

Kahikatea butter box

Image
Kahikatea butter box

In the early decades of the 20th century kahikatea timber was used to make boxes in which butter was exported to Great Britain. Unlike most other woods, kahikatea did not taint the butter.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: GH010066

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

John Dawson, Conifer–broadleaf forests – Loss of conifer–broadleaf forests, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/11681/kahikatea-butter-box (accessed 21 June 2026).

Story by John Dawson, published 1 March 2009.