Trust board member of Ngāti Kuri Sheridan Waitai waters newly planted kaikomako on Waiora Marae. Photo: Manaaki Whenua / Bradley White
A tree that was brought back from the brink of extinction has formally been returned to its iwi.
The tree - kaikomako manawa tawhi or the pennantia baylisiana - was a lone tree found on Three Kings Island north of Cape Reinga in 1945.
It took more than 40 years for scientists to successfully increase the tree's numbers.
Iwi Ngāti Kuri, whose rohe includes the Three Kings Island, have now planted Kaikomako Manawa Tawhi around its marae in Northland.
Ngāti Kuri executive director Sheridan Waitai spoke to Corin Dann.
