Trounson Kauri Park

{{Short description|Protected area in New Zealand}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox park|name=Trounson Kauri Park|coordinates={{coord|35.7199752|S|173.6493761|E|display=inline, title|name=Trounson Kauri Park}}|photo=Kauri trees in Trounson park.jpg|photo_caption=Kauri trees in Trounson park|opened=1921|location=Northland, New Zealand}}

Trounson Kauri Park is a {{convert|586|ha}} reserve. It was the Department of Conservation's first mainland island in the Northland Region of New Zealand. Characterised by its kauri trees, it was named after James Trounson, who gifted the forest to the Department of Conservation.

Trounson Kauri Park forms a discrete area of native bush set within a rolling rural landscape and rises to a maximum height of some 300 metres. Although not prominent from within the wider landscape, the scale of the vegetation, most notably the kauri accentuates this feature.

Trounson kauri Park includes the catchments of several first order streams of a tributary of the Waima Stream.

==History==

Trounson Kauri Park and its surrounding farmland was heavily felled. Many people wanted the scenic remnants of kauri to be preserved. In the 1890s, a {{convert|3.34|ha|adj=on}} stand of kauri forest {{convert|36|km}} north of Dargaville was reserved. Sawmiller James Trounson gifted a further {{convert|22|ha}} and then sold {{convert|364|ha}}. Trounson Kauri Park was opened in 1921. Since 1995 it has been run as a 'Mainland Island'.{{cite web |title=Trounson Kauri Park - |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/northland/places/trounson-kauri-park/?tab-id=50578 |website=Department of Conservation |access-date=23 April 2024}} An intensive pest control programme is restoring its biodiversity.{{cite web|first=Claudia |last=Orange |title=Northland places - Waipoua and middle Northland|website=Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand |url=http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/northland-places/page-12 |accessdate=2 June 2020}} Half of Trounson Kauri Park's trees are infected with kauri dieback.{{Cite web|url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/360955/kauri-dieback-in-waipoua-forest-a-tragedy-scientist|title=Trounson Kauri Park Dieback|last=|first=|date=|website=Radio NZ|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}