1918.] The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. 
201 
FORESTRY IN THE DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND.* 
By Sir William Schlich, K.C.I.E., F.R.S., M.A. Oxon. 
Forest, including scrub, originally covered the greater part of the Islands, 
but its area has gradually been reduced. In 1886 the area under forest 
amounted to 33,120 square miles, and in 1909 to 26,678 square miles, being 
a reduction of 6,442 square miles, equal to 20 per cent., in twenty-three 
years. In 1909 the proprietorship of the forests stood as follows :— 
Sq. Miles. 
12 per cent, of total area = 12,357 
3 „ = 3,298 
11 „ „ = 11,023 
Total .. .. 26 „ = 26,678 
It will be seen that 59 per cent, of the forest area is still the property 
of the State, and that 41 per cent, has been alienated or is Maori-owned. 
The distribution of the forests in the North Island is fairly even, but 
very uneven in the South Island. Stewart Island is nearly all forest or 
scrub. 
Composition of the Forests. 
Of about a hundred indigenous species only a limited number are as 
yet of really commercial value. Of these the following deserve to be 
specially mentioned :— 
1. Kauri (Agathis ( Dammam) australis), now found only in small quantities in 
the Auckland District of the North Island. It is the finest tree of New Zealand, and 
it yields one of the most valuable coniferous timbers of the world. The author regrets 
that this splendid tree was not regenerated instead of being almost exterminated. 
2. Totara (Podocarpus totara) has, owing to the quality of its timber, been much 
reduced in quantity by milling ; what remains now is chiefly found in the Auckland 
and Wellington Districts. It is to be hoped that it will not share the fate of the kauri. 
There seems yet to be time to regenerate it systematically. 
3. Matai (Podocarpus spicatus) is found in most localities; it yields a valuable 
timber. 
4. Rxmu (Dacrydium cupressinum, Red-pine), found universally in New Zealand, 
is consumed in greater quantity than any other timber, though not as durable as the 
above-mentioned species. 
5. Kahikatea (Podocarpus dacrydioides. White-pine), found all over the Islands ; 
it is particularly valued for butter-boxes and packing-boxes generally. 
6. Puriri (Vitex lucens) is the strongest and most durable of the broaddeaved 
trees of New Zealand; it is much used for railway-sleepers. 
7. 8, 9. Three Species of Beech (commonly called “ Birches ” in New Zealand), 
namely, Red-beech (Nothojagus fusca). Black-beech ( N . Solanderi), Silver-beech 
( N . Menziesii). They are chiefly found in the upper parts of the forest area, and they 
are gradually coming into use, especially N. fusca, principally for fencing and mining. 
Various other species are used in small quantities for milling, and more extensively for 
farming purposes. 
The forests are partly pure, but the greater part of the area is stocked 
with mixed forest. The stocking is very uneven. The area of forests fit 
for milling purposes is estimated at about 4,000,000 acres, of which 151,607 
Crown forests 
Permanent reserves 
Alienated forests 
* Slightly abridged from the Quarterly Journal of Forestry, vol. 12, No. 1, Jan., 
1918, pp. 1-28. 
