Totara
Scientific name: Podocarpus totara
Overview
Totara is one of New Zealand’s most culturally significant native timbers. Although botanically a conifer, it produces a moderately dense, durable wood historically used by Māori for carving, canoe building (waka), and structural applications.
Totara is known for its warm reddish-brown heartwood and straight grain. It offers good decay resistance relative to many softwoods, making it suitable for exterior and structural uses in traditional contexts.
Within the Oceania cluster, Totara represents the heritage and indigenous craftsmanship niche.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Totara
- Scientific Name: Podocarpus totara
- Region: Oceania & Pacific Softwoods (New Zealand)
- Tree Size: 60–100 ft tall, 3–6 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 32 lbs/ft³ (510 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 780 lbf
- Color: Reddish brown to dark brown, often deepening with age
- Grain: Straight
- Texture: Fine to medium
Identification Characteristics
Totara is identified by its warm reddish-brown heartwood and relatively straight, uniform grain. The texture is fine to medium and typically smooth when finished.
Compared to Rimu, Totara tends to show less pronounced growth band contrast and a slightly more uniform appearance. The wood is moderately lightweight relative to dense Australian hardwoods.
Key identification traits include:
- Warm red-brown coloration
- Straight grain
- Fine-to-medium texture
- Moderate weight
- Traditional carving suitability
Working Properties
Totara is generally easy to work.
- Machines cleanly
- Carves well
- Sands smoothly
- Glues reliably
- Stable when properly dried
Its carving qualities made it historically important in traditional Māori woodworking.
Safety Note
Wood dust may cause irritation in sensitive individuals. Standard dust protection is recommended.
Common Uses
Totara common uses including:
- Traditional Māori carvings
- Canoes (waka)
- Exterior joinery
- Posts and beams
- Furniture
- Interior millwork
Sustainability & Notes
Harvesting of native Totara is restricted under New Zealand conservation laws. Much available material comes from reclaimed sources or windfall timber. Totara’s historical and cultural significance adds importance beyond its mechanical properties.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Rimu – A New Zealand softwood commonly used in furniture and interior woodworking, typically less durable outdoors than Totara.
New Zealand Kauri – A well-known softwood valued for its workability and historical use in furniture and boat building, generally lighter and less decay-resistant than Totara.
Western Red Cedar – A durable softwood known for its natural resistance to decay, often used in outdoor construction and exterior applications.
Related Guides
How to Identify Hardwood by Grain Pattern
Totara’s straight grain contrasts with more irregular eucalyptus species.
Building a Documented Wood Collection
Including Totara helps document culturally significant Pacific timbers.
Moisture Content & Long-Term Stability
Proper drying improves stability in carving and joinery applications.
Compare Wood Properties
See how this species ranks in density and hardness using our Wood Density & Janka Hardness Chart. You can also explore Hardest Woods, Softest Woods, and Most Dense Woods for quick comparisons.
Collector Notes
Totara is a meaningful addition to a documented wood collection due to its cultural and historical importance in New Zealand. Samples that show heartwood coloration without excessive sapwood best represent the species. Reclaimed material may carry additional provenance value. Because of its moderate density, it is lighter than most Australian hardwoods, providing useful contrast within the Oceania cluster.
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Wood Sample Collection
This species is part of an ongoing effort to document and preserve wood samples from around the world.
Learn more about contributing to the collection:
Resources
Authoritative botanical and forestry references used in compiling information about this species include:
• USDA Forest Service – Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/products/publications/
• The Wood Database – Global reference for wood identification, physical properties, and woodworking characteristics
https://www.wood-database.com/
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Plants of the World Online – Botanical taxonomy and species distribution database
https://powo.science.kew.org/
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List) – Global conservation status assessments
https://www.iucnredlist.org/
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) – International trade regulations for protected plant species
https://cites.org/
Additional forestry publications, academic research papers, and regional timber studies may also be referenced where available.
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Availability & Where to Buy
Exotic hardwood availability can vary significantly depending on region, sustainability regulations, and supplier inventory.
As this archive grows, recommended suppliers and specialty wood retailers will be listed here to help woodworkers locate responsibly sourced material.
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