California Redwoods...in New Zealand?

In New Zealand? Ya right was my first thought, but this older gentleman i had met drew me a map that would lead me to these giants, a whole forrest of them! at Rainbow Springs Natural Park
The huge Californian Redwoods were planted in 1931. Because of the ideal growing conditions in New Zealand, these tress have grown twice as fast as they would in their natural North American habitat.

Actually, a big firm here in the U.S just bought an old sheep farm, and are now sending over genetically altered/cloned Redwoods from the giants of California. They're going to begin harvesting in about 35 years or so, and expected to have the trees up to 3 times the size of those harvested at the same age from the U.S.

Nifty little things we do these days. Also, New Zealand

When European settlement began in earnest in the mid-1800s, much of New Zealand was covered in native forests and shrublands.

Many of these forests were cleared to create sheep, cattle and dairy farms. Timber from the forests was used to build the country's rapidly growing towns, as well as fences on farms.

Despite laws to encourage tree planting, the clearance of native forests was so rapid that by 1913, some native species were threatened with extinction. In 1918 exports of native timber were restricted, and in 1925 the Government introduced financial incentives to create plantations of imported species and to reduce the pressure on native forests.

Today, forests cover 31 per cent of New Zealand's land surface — 24 per cent is indigenous (native) forest and 7 per cent plantations of mainly exotic species.

And that's the history lesson for the day!

(look skinny don't they? lol)