Te Aroha

Te Aroha, the legendary tree at the very tip of Cape Reinga. The tree is of great age but it is unclear exactly how old it is. In the 1960's it was considered 800 years old (Hodgson, G.L. 2015).

According to mythology, the spirits of the dead travel to Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua on their journey to the afterlife to leap off the headland and climb the roots of the ancient old pohutukawa tree and descend to the underworld to return to their traditional homeland of Hawaiki (ref: Cape Reinga. In Wikipedia. Retrieved March 27, 2015)

I snapped this picture during my trip up north. There's a legend surrounding this tree. It's said that despite the tough environment, this tree has never flowered and shouldn't have survived. Yet, it has stood tall for hundreds of years, enduring countless storms. It's not surprising that it's become a spiritual symbol for the Maori people of this land. Its resilience and beauty continue to inspire everyone who visits.