The southern rātā (Metrosideros umbellata) is a tree native to New Zealand and the subantarctic islands.  In the Auckland group, they grow throughout the islands in the coastal areas, with a heavy concentration on the eastern, leeward side of Enderby Island, which was the rātā forest that I visited on this trip.  The trees bloom with bright red flowers once per year. 

The wood of the rātā is hard and dense, making it a suitable building material that can withstand wet conditions and strong winds.  For this reason, the rātā was a critical resource for shipwrecked sailors stranded in the islands.  Additionally, when dry, the wood is slow-burning, and therefore ideal for both cooking and signal fires.