Nikau

Nikau palm by the creek on the way to the confidence course

Rhopalostylis sapida

Nikau  is he only palm native in New Zealand and is found only New in Zealand

Nikau palms are very common in the Tangihua range. Although they can be found on top of some of  the lower ridges, Nikau  prefers shaded gullies, depressions and the bottom of steep slopes where moisture is abundant. Nikau natural range is coastal and lowland forest as far south as the top of the South Island west coast at Karamea, making it the worlds most southern palm trees

Nikau description

The nīkau palm grows up to 15 m tall, with a stout, green trunk which bears grey-green leaf scars. The trunk is topped by a smooth, bulging  crownshaft up to 1m long. The fronds are up to 3 m long, and the closely set, sometimes overlapping leaflets are up to 1 m long.

The nïkau is very slow-growing. Research conducted in lowland forests near Auckland found it takes 40–50 years to begin to form a trunk and about 200 years to reach 10 metres tall. On average two fronds are shed per year leaving behind a leaf scar on the trunk which can be used to give a rough indication of age since the trunk began forming.

Count the scars add 40 and you have an estimated age of the Tree.

Flowers and fruit

Young Nikau in front of the lodge

It can take 30 years or more for the nikau to start flowering and fruiting.
The Nïkau sprouts large clusters of mauve flowers that burst from the base of the lowest branch.
Nīkau flowers between November and April, and fruits ripen from February to November, taking almost a year to fully ripen.

Role in forest

Nikau  flowers are sticky and sweet with nectar, which attracts insects, especially bees. While insects are probably the main pollinators, birds such as tui, bellbirds and silvereyes also enjoy the nïkau nectar.

Nikau fruit are an important food source for native birds, particularly the wood pigeon/kererü and käkä.
The pigeons and the Kaka help spread the seeds through out the forest.

Nikau seeds remain viable in the ground for long periods of time and can come away quickly after a fire or when conditions allow e.g fenced off from stock. Nikau palm fronds can form dense mats preventing young nikau and young trees from establishing. This can make them the dominate tree in an area.
Nikau tend to be goat and pig resistant to a certain extent which is why we have some good stands in the tangihua range.

Significance to Maori

Maori  found many uses for the nīkau palm.
The bases of the inner leaves, the young flower clusters and green fruit were eaten raw or cooked. Food was wrapped in the leaves for cooking.
The old fibrous leaves of Nikau  were used for baskets,  floor mats, waterproof  thatch for buildings and leggings for travelling through rough undergrowth.

From the outer portion of the trunk, Maori made storage containers and pots. The hard berries were made into necklaces.

The heart of the developing leaves (called rito) can also be eaten raw, but taking the shoots kills the whole tree. The taste of the inner heart has been described in  a variety of ways – juicy, sweet,   succulent, and nutty. It has a slightly laxative effect and was used as a medical treatment for pregnant women, relaxing the pelvic ligaments before childbirth.