Kauri gum oozes from kauri trees. It builds up in and around the tree over hundreds of years. The ground where the tree falls becomes a litter of wood and gum, which is often gradually buried by soil or drowned in swamps. Large amounts were dug from swamps in the far north from the 1860s till the 1940s. Blended with linseed oil, the gum was used to make varnish and floor coverings. Kauri gum was once the greatest economic earner of any New Zealand plant extract.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
by Alastair McLean
This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.