KAURI GUM

Gum from the Living Trees

Gum was collected from the living kauris where it had lodged high up in the branches. There was a time when “bleeding” was practised too. Armed with climbing hooks, spiked boots, ropes, and tomahawks, men would climb the trees and cut V-shaped “taps”, 18 in. apart round the barrel of the tree at intervals of about 6 ft. The exuded gum was harvested every six months. “Bleeding” was discontinued in State forests when the Department realised that it was injurious to the trees.

• KAURI GUM

• Maori Uses

• Early Export Trade

• Gum-digging

• Mining for Gum

• Gum from the Living Trees

• Gumland

• Market and Uses (1900–62)

Warning

This information was published in 1966 in An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock. It has not been corrected and will not be updated.

Up-to-date information can be found elsewhere in Te Ara.