Story: Kauri gum and gum digging

Huge nugget (2nd of 4)

Huge nugget

A boy sits next to a large nugget of kauri gum, found at Houhora in Northland. It probably weighed as much as he did. The largest pieces of gum, which were very rare, may have weighed up to 250 kilograms. Such chunks probably formed around a tree’s roots or in the forks of branches. By the 1890s, pieces weighing around 5 kilograms were uncommon.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Northwood Collection (PA-Group-00027)
Reference: 1/2-051968; F
Photograph by Arthur James Northwood

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Carl Walrond, 'Kauri gum and gum digging - Origin and early uses', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/12945/huge-nugget (accessed 17 April 2024)

Story by Carl Walrond, published 24 Sep 2007