whau so light its wood was used as fishing floats

Size
Height: 6–8 m
Lifespan
20–40 years
Diet
Herbivorous – absorbs nutrients through extensive root system. A fast-growing, light-demanding species that thrives in open, sunny locations. Prefers well-drained, fertile soils. Often found in regenerating forest, along forest margins, and in disturbed ground.
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 disturbed ground. A pioneer species that colonises open areas after fire or land clearance.
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. Also widely planted in gardens.
Endemism
Endemic
Main Threats
None significant – this species is common and widespread. Localised threats include habitat loss from land development, browsing by introduced mammals, and competition from invasive weeds.
Population
Whau is a fast-growing, short-lived pioneer tree with large, light green, soft, velvety leaves shaped like a fig. Bark is corky and light, and wood is extremely light and buoyant. Flowers are white, with a prominent central boss of yellow stamens, appearing in spring and summer. Fruit is a spiky, woody capsule.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
The cork tree of the New Zealand forest. A tree that floats. Whau has a wood so light it can float on water. At six to eight metres in height, it is a small, fast-growing tree, with a spreading crown and large, light green, soft, velvety leaves shaped like a fig. The bark is corky and light, and the wood is extremely light and buoyant. A tree that does not sink. A tree of the open places. Whau grows in lowland forests, scrublands, and regenerating bush, preferring open, sunny locations with well-drained, fertile soils. Often found along forest margins, in clearings, and in disturbed ground, colonising areas after fire or land clearance. A short-lived pioneer, growing quickly and producing flowers and fruit within a few years of germination. The flowers are white, with a prominent central boss of yellow stamens, appearing in spring and summer. The fruit is a spiky, woody capsule that splits open to release small, black seeds. The most remarkable thing about Whau is its wood. It is one of the lightest woods in the world, with density comparable to balsa. Māori used it to make fishing floats, rafts, and the famous whau surfboards. The wood was also used for making floats of fishing nets and for outriggers of canoes. A tree that helped people float. To see a Whau is to see a tree that has been shaped by the needs of the people who lived along the coast. The coast is windy. The whau grows, light green leaves velvety, corky bark light. A piece of its wood is cut and shaped into a float. It does not sink. It bobs on the waves. The tree does not know it made surfboards. It just grows wood that floats.