Rākau: The Ancient Forests of Aotearoa
Ideal for both the library and home, this engrossing book helps young readers discover what makes our rākau so special and worthy of our care.
Capital Trees: The arboreal legacy of Te Upoko-o-te-Ika the Wellington region
The significance and meaning of trees engagingly explored through the way they have shaped our capital.
By Susette Goldsmith
Publication: October 2025
Pages: 280
Format: Limpbound with jacket
ISBN: 978-1-99107209-2
RRP: $40
Available 9 October 2025.
From the fossil forest of Tītahi Bay and the ageing oak on Plimmer Steps, to the karaka grove on Wellington’s waterfront and a threatened stand of lowland beech in the Hutt Valley, Capital Trees journeys across the region to trace the living legacies of the city’s rich tree heritage and the many people who have shaped, protected and challenged it.
These legacies include arguments around heritage tree listing, the native versus exotics debate, biodiversity, attitudes towards heritage authenticity, trees as monuments and more, explored through facts, anecdotes and field notes.
Illustrated with contemporary photography and specimen illustrations of the species and individual trees covered, this book is a must for all who live in the Wellington region.
About the author
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