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A major ecological threat to the
native forests of New Zealand is the possum.
For
more than 10 years, the best and most profitable way
to help solve this problem is to sell the wool of
possums for clothing and accessories made from
possum.
To preserve the native forests of New Zealand, the
possum population must be controlled. Efforts to
lessen the overwhelming population of possums have
been augmented by companies that mix possum fur and
merino wool to create plush garments.
Aotearoa or New Zealand is formed by a ritual of
Maori culture. |
The influences of a melting pot of multi-cultures have given
this country a distinct flavor. From its landscape, rich in
verdant green forest creating a habitat appropriate for the
treasured kiwi.
The Pounamu or New Zealand Jade is a natural geo-phenomenon
found only in beautiful and mineral rich New Zealand.
Pounamu or "greenstone" comes from New Zealand’s West Coast.
Traditionally, the Pounamu were carved into tools or
weapons. Nowadays, it is fashioned into decorative
ornaments, as pendants and rings encrusted in silver or
carved into sculptures. Each type of carving has its own
traditional meaning either in a religious sense such as
images of Hei Matau and Tiki or to represent an icon such as
the kiwi.
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The seemingly endless fields and unspoiled land is
ideal for the practice of sheep herding which is a
major industry in New Zealand.
The finest wool in
the world comes from this country.
The sheep variety of New Zealand produces the finest
quality wool.
An assortment of boots, slippers, and
rugs can be found in most stores all over the
country and are even exported globally.
New Zealand
wool is used to manufacture these products and
processing is usually done in Christchurch.
These
good quality wool products are soft and comfortable
and are guaranteed to stave off the winter chill. |
The most famous native tree of New Zealand is the giant
Kauri tree. It is also one of the world’s largest trees. The
existing Kauri trees today have an ancestry that dates back
to the Permian or Jurassic Period, approximately two hundred
thirty million years ago. Kauri trees that are living today
have been discovered to be as old as four thousand years old
and reaching as high as one hundred and fifty feet and
having a girth of sixty feet.
The wood from these majestic Kauri trees was
exceedingly dear and most was shipped to countries
of Europe. New Zealand legislation today prohibits
the chopping down of any living Kauri tree.
An enormous natural disaster which happened
thousands of years ago resulted in many Kauri
forests to be wiped out and the precious trees to be
swallowed by swamps. The wood discovered was
preserved perfectly and carbon dating has shown that
a number of them have been submerged for more than
fifty thousand years.
Entrepreneurs of New Zealand extract the large logs and
stumps of Kauri trees from the swamps in the area of
Northland where vast Kauri forests once existed.
These extraordinary stumps and logs house wood that is
breathtaking in form and color. Sculptors breathe life into
these ancient relics by creating a wide range of handcrafted
ornaments from them. Clocks, frames, mirrors, etc. are just
some of the few products that are made from this majestic
wood.
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