kaikomako whose wood made the first fire
- Size
- Height: 8–12 m
- Lifespan
- 50–100 years
- Diet
- Absorbs nutrients through an extensive root system. Fast-growing and light-demanding. Thrives in open, sunny locations with well-drained, fertile soils. Found in regenerating forest and along forest margins.
- Habitat
- Lowland forests, scrublands, and regenerating bush. Prefers open, sunny locations with well-drained, fertile soils. Often found along forest margins, in clearings, and in coastal scrub. Tolerates wind and salt spray.
- Range
- Found throughout the North Island and northern South Island in lowland forests, scrublands, and regenerating bush. Most common in coastal and lowland areas, from Northland to Marlborough.
- Endemism
- Endemic
- Main Threats
- No significant threats as this species is common and widespread. Localised risks include habitat loss from land development, browsing by introduced mammals, and competition from invasive weeds.
- Population
- Kaikomako is a small, fast-growing tree with glossy, dark green leaves and masses of small, white, star-shaped flowers. Flowers followed by small, black, berry-like fruits eaten by birds. Wood is hard and dense, traditionally used for making fire.
- Conservation Status
- Not Threatened
- Human Risk
- harmless
- Handling Note
- native broadleaf tree, safe to handle
- Conservation Note
- Endemic tree; widespread in lowland and montane forests throughout New Zealand.
- Assessment
- NZTCS Vascular Plants (2023)
- Te Ao Māori
- In Māori tradition, Kaikomako was the tree of fire. Its hard wood was used with tinder fungus (amadou) to create flame. The name kaikōmako means "fire-maker". The tree was an essential part of the Māori toolkit. Without kaikomako, starting a fire would have been much more difficult. The tree was associated with the atua (spirits) of the forest. Its flowers were seen as the stars of the bush. A sign of the coming summer.
Māori used its wood for fire. Kaikomako is the fire-maker of the forest. At eight to twelve metres in height, it is a small, spreading tree. It has a rounded crown and glossy, dark green leaves. In spring and summer, it produces masses of small, white, star-shaped flowers. They cover the tree like snow. They fill the air with a sweet, honey-like fragrance. A tree that is beautiful and useful.
Kaikomako grows in lowland forests, scrublands, and regenerating bush. It prefers open, sunny locations with well-drained, fertile soils. You find it along forest margins, in clearings, and in coastal scrub. It tolerates wind and salt spray.
This is a fast-growing, light-demanding species. It is a pioneer that colonises disturbed ground and regenerating forest. It produces small, black, berry-like fruits. Birds eat them and disperse its seeds across the landscape.
The most remarkable thing about Kaikomako is its wood. It is hard and dense. It was traditionally used by Māori for making fire by friction. A pointed stick of kaikomako was rubbed against a softer piece of wood. This generated enough heat to ignite tinder. Typically, this was the dried fungus of the tinder bracket. Kaikomako was one of the preferred woods for this purpose. Its name reflects its fiery nature. A tree that made fire.
To see a Kaikomako is to see a tree shaped by the needs of the people who lived in the forest. The forest edge is sunny. The kaikomako grows. Glossy leaves are dark green. White flowers are sweetly scented. A stick is cut and rubbed against a softer wood. The dust smokes. The tinder catches. The fire starts.
The tree does not know it made fire. It just grows hard wood. And that seems to be enough.