Kauri Tree Planting Plan Update
My previous post on the progress of the Kauri tree seedlings was in April 2024. The germinated seedlings had been pricked out of the seed trays, into root trainers. From germination in the second quarter of 2023, two growing seasons have now passed.
I left Taieri Beach in mid-December 2024, and didn’t return until June 2025. I hadn’t notice much of a change in the seedling heights in December, so I was keen (but concerned) to see how the trees had grown over the summer. I met Phil Dunn at Ribbonwood Nurseries, and what he showed me was very encouraging. Phil’s staff had re-potted 4,300 trees into 1 litre pots. These are the pots that will travel to site for planting.
Steven from Ribbonwood Nurseries said that most of the growth had happened after Christmas. The seedlings were now looking more like trees!
The nursery team are progressively working their way through the root trainers, re-potting seedlings as they get tall enough. We have one more growing season for the laggards to catch up. It’s looking encouraging for planting in spring 2026.
My original plan was to plant Area 1 in spring 2025, Area 2 in autumn 2026, and Area 3 in spring 2026, but the seedlings were not large enough and both Phil Dunn and the scientists from Scion advised against any planting in 2025.
The growth progress made over last summer, and with one more summer still to come, makes me really want to plant all the kauri trees late next spring (September 2026). This means that the planting completion date remains on-track.
I’ve discussed this plan with Glen Riley from Habitat Restorations Aotearoa, and he thinks it should be OK. Based in previous work rates, there should be about 30 days effort required to complete the whole property.
20 July 2025
