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Story: Economy and the environment

Kauri spars

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Kauri spars

Charles Heaphy’s December 1839 painting shows a timber yard at Kohukohu, on the Hokianga Harbour. The ships are the Bolina (left) and Francis Spaight. A rowboat is hauling a raft of kauri spars to the ships. Kauri spars, used for ships’ masts, were one of New Zealand’s earliest exports.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: C-025-020

by Charles Heaphy

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Eric Pawson, Economy and the environment – An economy based on the environment, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/21643/kauri-spars (accessed 14 June 2026).

Story by Eric Pawson, published 26 February 2010.