Hukutaia Domain

The 5ha domain contains one of the finest collections of native flora, with 80 species of native trees, shrubs, ferns and grasses, plus several hundred other native species introduced from elsewhere. Many are rare or endangered.

The domain has magnificent forest settings, parkland, rock gardens and many walks. In the domain is an ancient burial tree, "Taketakerau". It is a puriri tree, about 22m around, over 23m high and estimated to be over 2000 years old.

Hollow burial trees such as Taketakerau were used by Maori as the last resting place for the bones of important people. A local found bones in the tree while sheltering from a storm in 1913. The bones have been removed and the tapu lifted.