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Story: Southern beech forest

Red beech, Maruia valley

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Red beech, Maruia valley

Red and silver beech trees fill the Maruia valley in the northern South Island. The largest trunks belong to red beeches, which reach a height of 30 metres. The forest interior is quite open, with beech saplings growing below gaps in the canopy.

Using this item

Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: AAQA 6500 Col162

by John Johns

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Joanna Orwin, Southern beech forest – Southern beeches, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/13298/red-beech-maruia-valley (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Joanna Orwin, published 1 March 2009.