Tutamoe
mountain in Northland, New Zealand
Tutamoe is the second highest mountain in Northland, New Zealand, with a height of 770 metres (2,530 ft). It is located in the Kaihu Forest, approximately 20 kilometres north of Dargaville.
Historically, the slopes of Tutamoe were densely forested with kauri trees (Agathis australis). The eastern slopes of Tutamoe were home to the largest kauri tree, Kairaru, having a circumference of 20 m and being 30.5 m to the first branches, double the size of Tāne Mahuta. Kairaru was lost to a fire in the late 1880s.
The mountain's soils, primarily composed of soft sedimentary material, provide ideal conditions for kauri trees to establish deep root systems and access moisture during the summer months. Additionally, basalt rocks, originating from the ancient Waipoua volcano, are abundant on the slopes. These mineral-rich rocks contribute to the fertility of the soil over time, creating favourable growing conditions. Many of the large kauri trees that remain today are found in areas with deep, fertile soils.
According to Māori mythology, Tutamoe is the guardian of the tribes in the area surrounding present-day Dargaville.
The public source identifies “Tutamoe” as mountain in Northland, New Zealand. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Tutamoe, mountain and Northland.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Tutamoe”, the useful work is to connect “mountain in Northland, New Zealand” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Place names and jurisdictional language are key evidence: both can reveal earlier catalogue descriptions and overlooked record series. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 7, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q31456609. Authority coordinates are -35.760, 173.802. 1 of 2 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank.
Modern boundaries and familiar names can conceal earlier jurisdictions or structures that do not align with the present site. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
- Historic place names
- Jurisdictional context
- Routes into maps and plans
Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Tutamoe”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Tutamoe primary sources, Tutamoe archive and Tutamoe research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Tutamoe”?
- Which authority defined the place, boundary or structure at the relevant date?
- Which earlier names or jurisdictions may reveal additional records?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Tutamoe” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.