An ancient Rimu tree estimated to be at least 800 years old peeks through the canopy at Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush. These remarkable, slow-growing trees can only be found in New Zealand. Park officials erected a platform around the ancient Rimu tree, nicknamed ‘Moko,’ to protect its fragile roots system. The botanical garden and forest preserve is a reminder of what the New Zealand’s landscape was like before the arrival of European settlers. Upon arrival, European settlers quickly cleared the land for development and farming. John Wilton, a farmer, fenced off a portion of…
