Health properties
Pukatea (Laurelia Novae-Zelandiae) benefits include:
Topical wound care: bark and inner bark used as poultices and washes for cuts, sores, and ulcers.
• Often prepared as gentle decoctions or soaks to support cleansing and tissue repair in minor wounds.
• Sometimes combined with other rongoā plants to create layered, supportive wound-care blends.
Anti‑inflammatory/analgesic: applied to reduce swelling and relieve aches.
• Warm bark poultices placed over sore joints, bruises, or areas of long-standing discomfort.
• Used as part of wider care that may include mirimiri (massage), rest, and movement.
Antiseptic: used externally to help prevent infection in wounds and skin lesions.
• Bark infusions may be used to bathe weepy, irritated patches of skin as a cleansing step before dressing.
• Valued for helping keep everyday skin issues from worsening when attended to early.
Respiratory support: steam or infusions used occasionally for chest complaints.
• Mild steams or light teas (under expert guidance) have been used to ease simple coughs or “heavy chest” feelings.
• Often used in combination with other lung-supporting plants as part of a holistic approach.
Cautions: consult a qualified practitioner for medicinal use.
• Primarily used externally; internal use, dosing, and duration are best guided by experienced rongoā practitioners or qualified herbalists.
• People with chronic illness, on medications, pregnant or breastfeeding should always seek professional advice first.
Traditional use
Rongoā Māori: inner bark, bark infusions, and poultices used externally for wounds, skin infections, ulcers, and rheumatic pain.
Practical applications: heated or crushed bark/leaves applied to affected areas; harvesting followed customary protocols and respect for the tree.
Cultural/ecological role: valued as a taonga species in wet-forest contexts; knowledge transmitted through whānau and rongoā practitioners.
• Harvesting may be accompanied by karakia and careful selection, taking only a small portion from any tree.
• Strength and subtlety of preparations can be adjusted to suit the person, age, and condition being treated.
• Use and tikanga vary by rohe; local mātauranga from mana whenua is central to safe and respectful practice.
Physical properties
Botanical: Laurelia novae-zelandiae (pukatea), family Atherospermataceae.
Form: medium to large evergreen canopy tree native to New Zealand, especially in lowland and swampy forests.
Leaves: glossy, lanceolate, evergreen.
Flowers: small, fragrant, creamy-yellow flowers borne in axillary clusters.
Fruit: woody capsules that release winged seeds; dispersal suited to damp forest habitats.
Bark/wood: pale, sometimes flaky bark; inner bark used medicinally; wood light and used historically for carving and construction.
Habitat: favors swampy, alluvial and lowland fertile soils; often found along streams and in moist forest gullies.
Growth: fast-growing in suitable wet sites; important structural species in wet-forest ecosystems.
• Characteristic buttressed roots help anchor the tree in soft, waterlogged soils and create microhabitats for other species.
• Provides shade, moisture retention, and habitat for birds, insects, and understory plants.
• In restoration, pukatea helps rebuild wetland-forest structure and supports waterway health.
Metaphysical / Energetic properties
Resilience and grounding: associated with endurance, rooted strength, and the capacity to thrive in wet, challenging environments.
• Its strong roots in soggy ground symbolise the ability to stay steady even in emotional “storms.”
• Helpful in practices for people who feel overwhelmed or “flooded” and need firm grounding.
Healing and protection: used symbolically for cleansing, protection of the home, and support during recovery.
• Bark or leaf representations may be placed near doorways or central spaces as a quiet guardian presence.
• Invoked in intentions focused on safe healing spaces, especially for those recovering from long-term stress or illness.
Connection to wetlands and ancestral places: fosters attunement to waterways, forest guardianship, and stewardship of taonga species.
• Sitting with pukatea near streams or swamp forests can deepen awareness of wai (water) as a living ancestor and life source.
• Encourages kaitiakitanga, especially around wetlands and riparian zones.
Renewal: invoked in rituals for regeneration, emotional stabilization, and community care.
• Its role in wet-forest succession mirrors the slow rebuilding of strength after loss or upheaval.
• Can be used as a focus in collective practices for community healing, support, and long-term wellbeing.
