Tōtara: A natural and cultural history by Philip Simpson is our Book of the Week this week at VOLUME. As well as profiling the tree and its habits, the well-illustrated book explores its significance to Maori and to settlers, and its plight in the modern era.

>> Simpson (who lives in Golden Bay) shares his love of tōtara.

>> An interview with Philip Simpson. 

>> Tōtara are easy to grow (hint).

>> Threats to totara. 

>> Totara for the future. 

>> The book has been short-listed in the Illustrated Non-Fiction section of the 2018 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.