Also known as New Zealand Podocarpus, this tree is indigenous to New Zealand. Some of the oldest totara trees stand over 40 meters tall and are estimated to be more than 1,800 years old. Revered by the Māori as a symbol of strength, totara has long been valued by European settlers for its exceptional decay resistance and durable antibacterial properties, making it an ideal material for pilings and fences. The totara polyphenols extracted from its heartwood—via supercritical carbon dioxide extraction—exhibit powerful antioxidant and antibacterial effects, albeit at a premium cost.