Kaituna Valley Scenic Reserve, a native bush remnant of grand podocarp forest with large mataī, kahikatea and tītoki trees left in Canterbury. Maori prized the fruit from the tītoki tree for medicine and perfume, the strong straight grained wood was valued and led to the saying in Maori proverbs “peka tītoki” to describe someone who was strong and wouldn’t surrender.
European settlers also found use with the wood and created tool handles, wheels and yokes for horses.

Kaituna stream alongside the reserve runs into Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora and was flooded when I visited. Pest and rodent control was in evidence by the markers on the trees, signalling lines for traps.