The Kauri Gum Diggers of New Zealand

 The history of New Zealand is filled with unique industries that shaped its culture and economy. Among them, the story of the kauri gum diggers stands out as one of the most fascinating chapters. For more than a century, from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, thousands of people worked as gum diggers in the northern regions of New Zealand, extracting resin from the mighty kauri trees. This resin, known as kauri gum, played an important role in local livelihoods, global trade, and even the development of art and industry.


Two Māori gum-diggers pose with a substantial pile of kauri gum, representing a week’s labour. Photo credit: Museum at Te Ahu

What is Kauri Gum?

Kauri gum is a fossilized resin produced by the kauri tree (Agathis australis), one of the largest and most ancient trees in the world. When the tree was injured, it secreted resin to heal itself, which eventually hardened and preserved for thousands of years in the soil or swamps. The gum varied in color from pale gold to deep amber and was valued for its beauty and practical uses.

In the 19th century, kauri gum became a valuable export commodity. It was used primarily in the production of high-quality varnish and linoleum, and later found a place in jewelry and ornamental crafts.


Tāne Mahuta—the largest living kauri tree. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Life of Kauri Gum Diggers

The kauri gum diggers of New Zealand were a diverse group. Many were Māori, who had long known the value of kauri resin, while others were European settlers, and later immigrants from Dalmatia (modern-day Croatia). These Dalmatian diggers became especially well-known for their hard work and resilience.


A polished kauri gum. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons 

Gum digging was not an easy profession. Workers often lived in harsh conditions, camping in makeshift huts near the swamps and digging for gum using simple tools such as spades, spears, and gum hooks. They endured mud, insects, and long hours of physical labor with little financial reward. Despite this, gum digging communities developed strong cultural bonds, and the industry left a lasting imprint on New Zealand’s northern regions.


A mid 19th century carving in kauri gum of a Maori warrior. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Economic and Cultural Impact

During the peak of the kauri gum industry in the late 19th century, thousands of tons of gum were exported from New Zealand each year, with Auckland becoming a major trading hub. The income supported many families and helped grow New Zealand’s economy.


Two men washing dishes in a tin basin at a gum climbers' camp by the Waipapa River, 1918. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Culturally, the gum diggers brought together different communities and traditions. Māori knowledge of kauri trees combined with European and Dalmatian digging methods to create a unique industry. The gum itself also inspired artists, who carved and polished it into beads, ornaments, and decorative pieces still treasured today.

Two gum climbers up a kauri tree near Anawhata. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Two gum-digger huts next to bush at Anawhata. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Decline of the Industry

By the early 20th century, synthetic alternatives to natural resins reduced global demand for kauri gum. As supplies dwindled and technology advanced, gum digging slowly faded into history. Today, kauri gum is more of a collector’s item, valued for its beauty and historical significance. Museums across New Zealand preserve artifacts, tools, and artworks from the gum digging era, keeping the memory of the diggers alive.

Legacy of the Kauri Gum Diggers

The story of the kauri gum diggers is a reminder of human resilience and resourcefulness. It reflects how people from different cultures worked side by side to build an industry that shaped New Zealand’s heritage. Though the days of gum digging are gone, the legacy of the kauri gum diggers of New Zealand remains an important part of the nation’s history, celebrated in books, museums, and cultural events.