Philip Simpson: Pohutukawa & Rata - New Zealand's iron-hearted trees

The pohutukawa has been voted New Zealand's best-loved tree, and it probably surpasses even the mighty kauri and the shining silver fern as the most iconic.

At this time of year, when its crimson blossoms start to appear, the pohutukawa provides a glorious signal that summer has arrived, Christmas is near, holidays are just round the corner and it's time to dig out the bathing suit, the boat and the barbecue ... and that we live in New Zealand.

Now Philip Simpson - who wrote the award-winning Dancing Leaves: the story of New Zealand's cabbage tree - has produced a timely tribute to the pohutukawa and its equally charming rata cousins.

Pohutukawa & Rata is like a biography of trees of the metrosideros genus.

The book outlines their ancestry, where they fit into the worldwide myrtle family, their most famous individuals, close relations around the Pacific and their development in New Zealand.

It explains the role these remarkable trees play in our eco-system, their importance to Maori and their uses today.

Then we get to the really exciting bit. Simpson outlines the tragic decline of pohutukawa and rata in the face of the onslaught of humans and imported enemies - especially the possum - and the trees' marvellous comeback in recent years.

He plays tribute to Project Crimson, which became a national movement after a group of Northland people who were worried about the demise of their pohutukawas got the support of forestry giant New Zealand Forest Products, now part of the even bigger Carter Holt Harvey.

The campaigners planted more trees, assisted their survival, attacked their enemies and protected their habitat. And as a result, Project Crimson has helped both pohutukawa and rata trees to flourish again.

But the battle to restore our crimson coasts is far from over. Simpson outlines new threats such as guava rust.

This is a big book and contains everything you need to know about pohutukawa and rata. It even offers advice on how you can make your contribution to their survival by raising seedlings from local seeds and planting them out.

Sure, there's a certain amount of scientific information that doesn't make for light reading, but there are some beautiful photographs, the text is surprisingly lively for such a serious topic and it's a terrific story.

It's hard to think of a more appropriate book to read while you lie in the shade of a pohutukawa this summer.

* Te Papa Press, $59.99