New Zealand’s Arboricultural Society has named the “walking tree,” a unique northern rata located in Karamea, on the west coast of the South Island, as its Tree of the Year. This magnificent tree stands tall at around 32 meters and resembles a seven-storey building with roots and branches that appear to point outwards like legs. The northern rata, which is believed to be centuries old, is one of New Zealand’s tallest flowering plants and can live up to 1,000 years.
The northern rata was chosen as the Tree of the Year after receiving 42% of votes from the community. President Richie Hill described the tree as a special example of New Zealand’s unique and beautiful flora. Experts are unsure about the exact age of the tree but believe it to be the only remaining specimen from a forest that was cut down about 150 years ago.
The northern rata is an epiphyte that starts its life on the surface of a host tree before its roots reach the ground. Its unusual appearance may be due to growing around a host tree that has long since perished. Endemic to New Zealand, this rare tree was once a common sight in the country’s forests but its population has declined significantly due to threats such as deforestation and challenges like palm-tailed possums, which feed on its leaves and roots, and Austropuccinia psidii, a disease originating from South America that poses a risk to its population in New Zealand since it was discovered in 2017.
