Health properties
Traditional topical uses: seed oil and parts used externally for skin irritations and minor wounds.
• Seed oil has been used traditionally as a gentle base for soothing balms and massage oils.
• Can be blended with other rongoā plants (e.g. kawakawa) for general skin comfort and everyday first-aid care.
Anti‑inflammatory/soothing: poultices applied to reduce swelling and relieve aches.
• Warm leaf or bark poultices have been placed on bruises, sprains, and sore joints.
• Often used as part of a wider healing approach that includes rest, movement, and other rongoā support.
Nutritional: ripe arils (red seed coverings) were eaten; seeds are bitter and often not consumed raw.
• The sweet arils were a small, seasonal food, sometimes shared and enjoyed by tamariki.
• Birds also feed on the arils, helping to spread the seeds and regenerate the forest.
Cautions: seeds can be bitter/toxic if eaten raw in quantity—avoid internal use without guidance.
• Only the fleshy red aril is traditionally eaten; the hard seed inside is usually discarded.
• People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, on regular medications, or with health conditions should seek guidance before using any internal preparations from this tree.
Traditional use
Rongoā Māori: arils (bright red fleshy coverings) eaten as a seasonal treat; seeds and other parts used in topical preparations for skin complaints and aches.
Practical uses: crushed leaves or heated poultices applied to affected areas; harvested with customary respect and seasonal knowledge.
Cultural role: valued for food, seasonal signals, and materials; knowledge transmitted through whānau and rongoā practitioners.
• The bright fruits can signal particular times of year for harvesting and other seasonal activities.
• Oil expressed from the seeds has been used as a fine, light oil for skin and sometimes for special purposes like grooming or caring for taonga.
• As with many rākau rongoā, specific ways of preparing and combining parts of the tree are held within iwi and hapū traditions.
Physical properties
Form: medium to large evergreen tree native to New Zealand.
Leaves: pinnate with glossy leaflets, often 7–15 per leaf.
Flowers: small, inconspicuous, creamy-yellow, produced in panicles.
Fruit: woody capsule that splits to reveal bright red arils surrounding black seeds—ornamental and attractive to birds.
Bark/wood: smooth to slightly flaky bark; timber used historically for small carvings and implements.
Habitat: coastal and lowland forests, forest margins, and sheltered sites throughout Aotearoa.
Growth: canopy/sub-canopy tree that provides habitat and food for native fauna.
• Often found in mixed broadleaf forest, contributing to shade, moisture retention, and forest structure.
• The showy fruits can make the tree easy to spot in season, drawing attention from people and manu alike.
• Suitable for native plantings in appropriate climates, where it supports biodiversity and cultural restoration.
Metaphysical / Energetic properties
Protection and abundance: associated with safeguarding the household and attracting abundance due to its bright seed arils.
• The vivid red arils may be carried or symbolically placed to invite warmth, prosperity, and watched-over spaces.
• Sometimes linked with “holding” and protecting what is precious—whānau, taonga, and shared resources.
Renewal and joy: arils symbolize seasonal renewal, small pleasures, and the sweetness of life.
• Their brief, colourful appearance can be a reminder to notice and celebrate simple, passing joys.
• Used in personal rituals that focus on gratitude and welcoming in lighter, happier times.
Connection and generosity: fosters community sharing, seasonal awareness, and reciprocity with the forest.
• Sharing the fruit or oil can symbolise manaakitanga (care and hospitality) within whānau and community.
• Encourages awareness of give-and-take with the ngahere: taking only what is needed and offering respect in return.
Grounding charm: used in rituals to strengthen ties to place and provide gentle protective energy.
• A small, respectfully gathered fruit, leaflet, or image of the tree may be kept on an altar or in the home.
• Meditating with this rākau—either in person or in visualisation—can support feeling rooted, resourced, and quietly protected on one’s path.
