we are not only planting trees - we are planting ideas

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We spent our second volunteering week in the Waipoua-Forest, 3 hrs-drive north of Auckland.
It was all about Kauri-Trees. Real giants of the forest ...

The Ranger Stephen is very passionate about the vision of conservation: restoring the old flora and fauna of New Zealand  (the time before humans interfered) as much as possible. And he wants to plant ideas into our heads about humans being part of nature and behaving like that part - not as the masters of nature.
Stephen is different - for instance I've never seen Stephen with shoes on ...























Heidi taking a picture of Stephen and Tane Mahuta - good pictures need passion :-)



Stephen at the tree named "Tane Mahuta", the giant of New Zealand's forest and the largest Kauri tree in the world. It deserves its name, which translates "Lord of Forest". This tree is approximately 1250 years old.

This is Yakas - another Kauri-Tree about the same age like Tane Mahuta. Look how tiny we are...


And that little plant Thomas is holding is a Kauri as well - may be a few month old

















And Kauri all over in our nursery - up to 10 years old

But we also had free time left and spent it in New Zealands nature - like the northern westcoast

by the way - I think this is the best ever picture I have taken

 
Westcoast at Omapere

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