2 days ago
Chook Tree a finalist in national competition
The Chook Tree in Waianakarua in North Otago is a finalist in the Tree of the Year competition. Photo: ODT files
Three trees from the North Island will go up against three from the South Island, including a tree from North Otago, in a national competition.
The Chook Tree in Waianakarua, north of Palmerston, has been named as a finalist in the Tree of the Year competition.
The competition was launched this week and the public was invited to vote for their favourite from a shortlist of six trees across the country.
In a statement, the NZ Notable Trees Trust, which runs the competition, said the Tree of the Year was a celebration of the iconic trees that shaped the country's landscapes, memories and communities.
The competition shared stories of trees that held cultural, historical, and personal significance — drawing inspiration from the long-running European Tree of the Year competition.
Last month, New Zealanders were encouraged to nominate a single tree that held special meaning — not a whole species, but one tree with a unique story. The aim was to highlight the deep-rooted connections we share with these living treasures.
NZ Notable Trees Trust trustee Brad Cadwallader said the heart of the competition lay in community engagement.
"These trees are part of our shared story — they hold our memories, mark our histories and shape our landscapes."
Voting has opened and will close at midnight on June 30. This year's winner will be announced on July 5.
Last year the award was given to a northern rātā (Metrosideros robusta) nicknamed ''The Walking Tree''. The distinctive tree is near Karamea Cemetery on the West Coast.
Tree finalists
The Fairy Tree, Auckland Domain
St Luke's Gum, Greytown
Rangiora Borough School Redwood
Te Herenga Ora, Burnside High School, Christchurch
The Phantom Rātā, Lake Ōkataina
The Chook Tree, Waianakarua, Otago — APL
