Massive Rata Timber Slab – Rare NZ Native Hardwood – 3.6m x 1.2m RRP: $10,000+ | Collector’s Grade | Air-Dried Over 10 Years

A truly one-of-a-kind showpiece — this massive Rata slab is among the largest ever milled from New Zealand’s native forests.

Recovered with true grit from deep in a dead Rata forest in New Plymouth (2012–2013), our bushmen spent six months on-site to bring out a limited number of these spectacular slabs. Salvaged under MPI-approved conditions, this piece has been air-dried for over a decade and lightly sanded to reveal its rich natural colours and grain.

Specifications:

• Length: 3600mm
• Width: 1200mm (widest) / 1000mm (narrow end)
• Thickness: 140mm
• Estimated Weight: ~500kg
• Drying: Air-dried 10+ years
• Surface: Top face sanded to #40 grit
• Optional Kiln Drying: To 12–14% moisture content for +$500

Truly Unique: This is likely the only Rata slab of this size available in the world — possibly the largest ever milled. A tree of this scale would have lived for well over a thousand years before falling naturally. An extraordinary opportunity for collectors, designers, or master woodworkers.

About Rata Timber (Metrosideros spp.): Rata is one of New Zealand’s rarest and densest native hardwoods, revered for:

• Deep red to purple hues that darken with age
• Tight, interlocked grain
• Outstanding density: up to 1140 kg/m³ (Southern Rata)
• Traditional use in Maori carving, shipbuilding, and heavy construction

Legally Sourced: This slab was cut from a naturally fallen Rata tree (likely killed by possum damage), recovered under strict MPI guidelines. Milling of standing trees is prohibited in NZ.

Ideal For:

• Boardroom or luxury dining table
• Museum-grade feature or sculptural installation
• Architectural bench or premium fit-out
• Heirloom furniture
• Collector-grade timber projects

Pickup & Delivery:

• Pickup from Kumeu, Auckland
• Freight available NZ-wide — contact us for a custom quote