History In a Tree

Thousands of motorists every week pass one of Poverty Bay's most historic landmarks without knowing it exists.

From an acorn planted at Opou 119 years ago has grown "the Manutuke oak", a giant with a ¾–acre spread.

Captain J. W. Harris, "the founder of Poverty Bay", planted the acorn in 1837 to celebrate the birth of his son, Henry.

A gale in the 1890's split the butt. Many years later Mr Willie Clark, of Opou station patched it with cement to prevent rot.

These pictures show that the tree is still strong and healthy.

It is located opposite the Papatu Road turn-off on the main Gisborne-Napier road.