Golden Tōtara large bonsai in development.
After reading Tōtara from author Philip Simpson I made this Tōtara like one that was chosen as a future waka by "waka barking" it.
Waka barking involved Māori waka builders or woodsmen making a horizontal cut across the base and approx 15 meters above that of say 100 year old straight Tōtara. Then stripping barking off in a narrow and straight line between them until wood was exposed. Over years or decades the tree grew larger around this while the wood decays or is gouged out by birds and insects. Then the tree is felled and the beginning of a waka is already worked into it by nature.
photo of a waka barked mature Tōtara tree from page 160 of author Philip Simpson's book titled: Tōtara.
