Kahikatea
Scientific name: Dacrycarpus dacrydioides
Overview
Kahikatea is a native New Zealand conifer species historically valued for its lightweight timber, clean appearance, and importance in traditional New Zealand woodworking and food storage applications. The species commonly grows in lowland swamp forests and is recognized as the tallest native tree species in New Zealand.
The wood is typically pale cream to light yellow with a straight grain and fine, uniform texture. Kahikatea is relatively soft and lightweight compared to many New Zealand timbers, but its clean odorless properties historically made it highly desirable for butter boxes, food containers, and interior applications.
Within the Oceania & Pacific hardwood and timber cluster, Kahikatea represents one of New Zealand’s most historically significant native softwoods.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Kahikatea
- Scientific Name: Dacrycarpus dacrydioides
- Region: Oceania & Pacific Hardwoods (New Zealand)
- Tree Size: 100–200 ft tall, 3–8 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 31 lbs/ft³ (500 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 540 lbf
- Color: Pale cream to light yellow
- Grain: Straight
- Texture: Fine and even
Identification Characteristics
Kahikatea is identified by its very pale coloration, lightweight structure, and fine uniform texture. The wood generally displays minimal visible figure and develops smooth finished surfaces.
Compared to denser New Zealand conifers such as Matai or Totara, Kahikatea appears lighter in both color and weight.
Key identification traits include:
- Pale cream to light yellow coloration
- Straight grain structure
- Fine and even texture
- Lightweight feel
- Clean and uniform appearance
- Low natural odor
- Smooth finished surfaces
- Minimal visible figure
Working Properties
Kahikatea is considered easy to work and performs well in lightweight woodworking and interior applications. The species machines cleanly and finishes smoothly.
- Machines easily with sharp tools
- Good carving and turning properties
- Accepts finishes effectively
- Sands to a smooth surface
- Moderate dimensional stability
- Good gluing performance
- Lightweight and easy to shape
- Suitable for interior woodworking applications
Safety Note
Wood dust from Kahikatea may cause irritation in sensitive individuals. Proper dust collection and respiratory protection are recommended during woodworking operations.
Common Uses
Kahikatea common uses including:
- Interior joinery
- Furniture
- Paneling
- Wood carving
- Food storage containers
- Cabinetry
- Light construction
- Turned objects
- Craft woodworking
Sustainability & Notes
Kahikatea forests were heavily harvested historically throughout New Zealand, particularly during the colonial timber era. Modern conservation efforts now protect many remaining native stands.
The species became especially important in New Zealand’s dairy industry because its odorless wood was ideal for butter boxes and food storage containers.
Today, commercially available material is more limited and often sourced from reclaimed timber or regulated harvesting operations.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Totara – A more durable New Zealand conifer traditionally used for exterior construction and carving applications.
Matai – A denser New Zealand native timber valued for flooring, furniture, and decorative woodworking.
Rimu – Another important New Zealand conifer recognized for warm coloration and furniture applications
Related Guides
How to Identify Wood by End Grain Patterns
Learn how grain structure, pores, rays, and texture help distinguish wood species.
Wood Families & Trade Groups
Understand how related conifer and hardwood species are grouped within forestry and commercial timber classifications.
Building a Documented Wood Collection
Explore how collectors organize, label, and preserve wood samples from around the world.
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
Kahikatea samples are appreciated for their pale clean appearance and historical importance within New Zealand timber traditions. Well-prepared samples often display smooth texture and remarkably uniform grain.
The species is especially significant within Pacific wood collections because of its historical association with traditional food storage and New Zealand lowland forest ecosystems.
Share Your Photos of This Species
Do you have lumber, wood samples, tree photographs, woodworking projects, furniture, carvings, turnings, musical instruments, or other items made from this species?
Exotic Woods of the World welcomes photographs from woodworkers, collectors, sawyers, researchers, and wood enthusiasts around the world. Selected submissions may be featured on this page and throughout our website to help document and showcase real-world examples of this species.
When submitting photos, please include the common name, scientific name (if known), a brief description, and any information you would like us to share with the image.
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.
Lumber Suppliers:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
Related Tools & Products:
• Gorilla All Purpose Wood Filler, Natural Finish (16 oz) for filling cracks, holes, gouges, and imperfections before sanding, staining, or painting woodworking projects
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• DEWALT DPG82 Concealer Anti-Fog Safety Goggles for protecting your eyes from sawdust, wood chips, and flying debris during cutting, sanding, and routing
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• WORKPRO Folding Roller Stand with Adjustable Height for supporting long boards, plywood, and lumber during table saw, miter saw, and woodworking operations
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