Farm Forestry New ZealandTotara is reasonably fast growing when compared with other native conifer species and is also well positioned as a species suitable for market development, with an existing resource of regenerating trees in Northland.
Totara is a hardy pioneer conifer species suitable for planting in open and exposed sites. Although initial growth is slow, this can accelerate during the pole phase provided stand density is managed by thinning out poorer quality trees.
Health: Generally a healthy tree, however totara is the most susceptible native podocarp to defoliation by insects. Native insects such as stick insects, scale and cicadas can damage totara, with leafroller damaging terminal shoots and affecting tree form.
Timber: Totara heartwood is a dull pinkish-red to pinkish-brown colour and the sapwood a pale brownish white. Heartwood is very durable. Totara timber is relatively light, straight grained and soft and has a very even texture and excellent stability. The timber is of medium strength but with a rather low shock resistance.
Totara machines well and is easily brought to a smooth finish. Totara is renowned as an excellent joinery timber, with good screw and nail holding capacity and resistance to denting.
Totara sapwood is resistant to attack by Anobium borer. Although the sapwood can be treated with CCA preservatives for in-ground or outdoor use, it is moderately resistant to pressure treatment.
Totara is suitable for interior and exterior joinery, door frames, window sashes, boat building, furniture and carving and totara wood is in demand for cultural use by Maori.
Second growth ("farm totara") trees less than 100 years old have a high proportion of sapwood but the wood is suitable for all interior uses, particularly feature linings, joinery and furniture.
| Species | Density, dry (kg/m3) | Bending strength, MoR (MPa) | Stiffness, MoE (GPa) | Hardness, Janka (kN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totara | 480 | 55.0 | 7.39 | 2.4 |
Siting: Tolerates the presence of livestock. Can grow on boney dry soils but best growth requires some soil depth and fertility. Tolerates some wind exposure.
Steep slopes: Perhaps the best-suited of the native conifers for steep eroding slopes that are exposed to wind. Well suited to continuous cover forestry.
Species characteristics: A light-demanding coloniser. Unlike most native conifers, totara is not well adapted to shade.
Recommended regime: Requires a high stocking rate or nurse crop for good pole form. Recommended planting of 1600-2000 stems per hectare, or alternatively 800 stems per hectare interplanted with 800 stems manuka for honey production and as a nurse crop to draw the totara upwards. Requires good weed control in the establishment period. Silvicultural management requires development, but thinning of dense stands is essential for volume production and pruning is essential for stands where existing pole trees are heavily branched.
Key message: Very suitable for less productive pastoral slopes and compatible with livestock farming. An average diameter of 55cm can be expected in 75 years.
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