Health properties
Traditional topical uses: bark and leaves applied as poultices or washes for cuts, sores, and skin complaints.
• Often prepared as gentle washes for everyday scratches, insect bites, and minor skin irritations.
• Combined with other rongoā species in some traditions to support cleansing and calm of the skin.
Anti-inflammatory/analgesic: used to ease aches, sprains, and rheumatic pain when applied externally.
• Warm compresses or poultices may be placed over sore joints, bruises, or strained muscles.
• Typically used short‑term, alongside rest and other supportive care.
Antiseptic: reputed mild antiseptic properties in folk preparations for wound care.
• Decoctions of bark or leaves have been used as rinses to help keep minor wounds clean.
• Fits within a wider rongoā approach that considers the person, environment, and cause of the issue.
General tonic: infusions of leaves occasionally used as supportive remedies for general weakness or fatigue in some traditions.
• Light internal use has sometimes been used to gently “pick up” the system during convalescence.
• Usually taken in modest amounts and for limited periods, not as a daily long‑term tea.
Cautions: consult a practitioner, especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or with medical conditions.
• People on regular medications, or with liver, kidney, or heart conditions should seek qualified advice before internal use.
• Topical preparations should be patch‑tested on a small area first, particularly for sensitive skin.
Traditional use
Rongoā Māori: used by Māori for topical treatments—bark and leaves prepared as poultices, washes, or heated applications for wounds, skin infections, and musculoskeletal pain.
Practical applications: fresh crushed leaves or heated bark pieces applied to affected areas; use followed customary harvesting protocols and respect for the tree.
Cultural significance: valued as a taonga (treasured species) within forest resources and incorporated into local medicinal knowledge.
• Harvesting may be accompanied by karakia and careful selection to minimise harm to the tree.
• Different parts (young leaves vs. older bark) might be chosen depending on the need and the person being treated.
• Knowledge of when and how to use this rākau is held within whānau, hapū, and by tohunga rongoā, and can vary by rohe.
Physical properties
Form: large, evergreen native tree of New Zealand forests.
Leaves: large, glossy, bright green, usually simple or with a few leaflets; leathery texture.
Flowers: clusters of tubular white to pale cream flowers, often fragrant, appearing in summer and attractive to birds (nectar source).
Fruit: small fleshy drupes that mature purple-black; eaten by birds and contribute to seed dispersal.
Bark/wood: stout trunk with relatively smooth bark; timber is dense and historically valued for carving and construction.
Habitat: common in lowland and coastal forests and forest remnants, preferring rich, well-drained soils; important component of native forest ecosystems.
Growth: long-lived canopy tree providing habitat and food for native fauna.
• Offers shade and shelter that help younger plants establish and create multi-layered forest structure.
• Flowers and fruit support native birds and insects, strengthening local biodiversity.
• In restoration plantings, this species helps rebuild both ecological function and cultural connection to place.
Metaphysical / Energetic properties
Strength and protection: associated with grounding, endurance, and protective energy—used symbolically to fortify home and community.
• Its solid trunk and canopy can be visualised as a “pillar” of strength in meditation or ritual.
• Leaves, images, or representations of the tree may be placed in the home as a reminder of steadfast protection.
Nourishing and sustaining: embodies sustenance and resilience; invoked to support recovery and long-term wellbeing.
• Often called on when someone is rebuilding energy after stress, illness, or major life change.
• Encourages slow, steady strengthening rather than quick fixes.
Connection and stewardship: fosters relationship with native forest, ancestral land, and responsibility to protect taonga species.
• Sitting with this rākau in the ngahere can deepen awareness of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and interdependence.
• Working with it can inspire practical action—such as planting natives, protecting remnants, and learning local stories.
Heart-centered stability: used in rituals to promote steadiness, rootedness, and care for kin and community.
• Its presence is often associated with a calm, “held” feeling, supporting clear decision-making and compassionate leadership.
• A small, respectfully gathered piece (or symbolic representation) can be used as a focus when setting intentions around whānau wellbeing and collective strength.
