Video: NZ’s second tallest tree discovered in Nelson

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Here’s a video of the towering eucalyptus behind Easby Park that claimed the title of ‘second tallest tree in New Zealand’.

The Barrington Gum towers above surrounding pine trees in Kingsland Forest. Photo: Brad Cadwallader.
Photo: Brad Cadwallader.

The giant Eucalyptus regnans, or mountain ash, is growing in Kingsland Forest behind Easby Park and was officially measured at 72.1 metres in 2009 by Richmond arborist Brad Cadwallader and climber Menno Kluiters.

At the time, it was the second-tallest measured tree in New Zealand behind an 80m mountain ash in the Orokonui Eco-sanctuary near Dunedin.

Brad, who is also manager of the New Zealand Tree Register, says people will be astounded by the size of the 160-year-old tree which has a diameter of 2.35m and towers above the surrounding pine trees.

“It was the second tallest tree in New Zealand when we measured it,” Brad says. “There are now a few more trees in the 70-metre class but it’s safe to say it is in the top five.

“I have laser-measured it since 2009 and it had grown a bit but it hasn’t quite reached 73 metres yet. The big gums in the Waimea College bus bay are only about 26 metres high, so that puts it in perspective.”