We recently held a local version of ‘Tree of the Year’, organised by our Greenspaces team.
The purpose was to celebrate the trees that are part of our communities.
Judges included Canterbury Botanical Society life member, NZ Farm Forestry Association member and former QEII National Trust representative Miles Giller, Keep Rangiora Beautiful member Adrienne McGowan, and Waimakariri District Councillor Niki Mealings who all agreed the competition was fierce, but Rangiora Borough School’s giant redwood was the star among the six strong candidates.
Check out some of these beauts and the amazing stories behind them!
Is there another local tree near you love that think should have made the cut?
Pics courtesy of NC News.
1. Giant redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum)
Location: Rangiora Borough School, Rangiora, Waimakariri.
Nominated by: Shane Buckner.
Photo credit: Shane Buckner
The tree’s story:
This giant redwood is the winner of the inaugural Waimakariri Tree of the Year competition which was held to find candidates for the New Zealand Tree of the Year 2025.
It is the focal point of Rangiora Borough School, with a large stage built around its trunk dedicated to ``the tamariki/children of Rangiora Borough School, to sing, dance and play on for many generations to come," in memory of the late Alan Sutton who was principal at the school from 2001 to 2021.
The stage area provides many opportunities for the school children to use in a variety of ways, from outdoor learning to performance events, or just relaxing.
The tree is believed to have been planted about 1860, when the school land was owned by William Sanson, and ``means so much to our school, both past and present," the school’s principal, Shane Buckner says.
``It has featured in many designs over the 150 years our school has been part of the community. Our updated uniform has a stylish representation of our beautiful tree in the side panels of the shirt, and our children wear this with pride."
2. Giant totara (Podocarpus tōtara)
Location: Ashley-Rakahuri Gorge, Oxford, Waimakariri.
Nominated by: John Burton.
Photo credit: Shelley Topp.
The tree’s story:
Tōtaranui, this giant tōtara, which is believed to be about 1000 years old, is the star of the new Ashley Gorge Tōtaranui Track which was marked out on steep, dense, challenging terrain by the Ashley Gorge Tracks manager John Burton and his team of young helpers with their dog Baxter. The track is a testing climb but hugely rewarding as it provides access to this exceptional forest elder which is surrounded by other forest giants including a matai/prumnopitus taxifolia and a native tree fuchsia/kotukutuku for company.
3. Giant redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum)
Location: Ashley-Rakahuri Gorge Reserve, Oxford, Waimakariri
Nominated by: Robert Judson and Mike Kwant
Photo credit: Shelley Topp
The tree’s story:
This giant redwood is believed to be the oldest tree in the Ashley-Rakahuri Gorge Reserve at about 128 years old. It is a show-stopping focal point on the reserve's popular wheelchair-friendly Lookout Track which is accessible to all and is also prized for its beautiful, very thick bark which is forest-fire resistant.
4. Olive tree (Olea europaea)
Location: Rangiora RSA car park, Rangiora, Waimakariri.
Nominated by: Rangiora RSA.
Photo credit: Shelley Topp
The tree’s story:
This thriving olive tree was planted in memory of the soldiers who gave their lives in the Greece/Crete campaign of WWII. It provides a stark reminder of the sacrifices they made and is a timeless symbol of hope for peace.
The tree was donated by the late Ken Rowe, who fought in that campaign but considered himself one of the lucky ones to have returned home after the war ended.
5. Baby totara (Podocarpus tōtara)
Location: Silverstream Reserve, Clarkville, Waimakariri.
Nominated by: Noelene Francis, Silverstream Volunteer Group founder.
Photo credit: Noelene Francis.
The tree’s story:
This tree, Tōtara Pēpē (baby totara) is only at the beginning of its life but it is a young symbol of what the initial vision, passion, and enthusiasm of one person, who cares deeply about the environment and can inspire others to feel the same way, can achieve.
Tōtara Pēpē was one of the first of more than 52,000 native plants that volunteers, led and inspired by Noelene, have planted in the 52-hectare reserve transforming it from a barren wasteland to a thriving, lush, young native forest with abundant birdlife.
This young tōtara was planted in 2016, three years after the concerted effort by volunteers to plant and look after the reserve began. It was planted amongst established pittosporums to provide the early protection tōtaras need. It is now thriving amongst its sheltering companions and is a true icon in the making.
6. Ornamental flowering Japanese cherry
Location: Kaiapoi Food Forest in Kaiapoi, Waimakariri.
Nominated by: Brent and Shirley Cairns.
Photo credit: Shelley Topp (first photo)
The tree’s story:
This tree was a centrepiece in one of the Kaiapoi gardens red zoned after the devastating September 4, 2010 earthquakes that destroyed much of the town. It was saved by Michael de Hamel, who worked with the digger driver sent to demolish the house on the land and made sure the lovely mature tree was not destroyed. Later the Food Forest was established on that land and this tree, with its koru-shaped, colourful mosaic seat now set around its trunk, has been a focal point during planting days, other community events and educational programmes which have been held there for many years now. It also provides a lovely place for visitors to the Food Forest, including Michael, to sit under for relaxing or reading.