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Our native trees are very special

Let's talk about our epic native forests. They're super important to Māori whakapapa (family history). These forests connect Māori to their tupuna (ancestors), their whenua (land), and their iwi (tribe).

But it's not just for Māori – our native trees are a big deal for all of us. Think about the pōhutukawa or the tī kōuka (cabbage tree). They're icons of Aotearoa! We all need to feel connected to our forests, help look after them and enjoy them all over New Zealand.

Do you recognise any of these trees? Did you know that the pōhutukawa is called Aotearoa, New Zealand's Christmas tree?

Native plants poster
Image reproduced with thanks to Teacher Talk