New Zealand Notable Trees Trust News Feed

New Zealand Tree of the Year 2026

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Online Voting Opens on Arbor Day. Celebrate Arbor Day by taking part in one of New Zealand's most popular tree celebrations — New Zealand Tree of the Year 2026.

The annual competition showcases extraordinary trees from across Aotearoa, highlighting their beauty, history, cultural significance, and the stories that connect communities to them.

This year's finalists are set for announcement this Arbor Day ready for voting to open: www.treeoftheyear.co.nz

Voting closes midnight 30 June

2023 NZ Arb Annual Conference

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2023 NZ Arb Annual Conference

INVERCARGILL
9 - 11 November ITL Stadium
See Registration & Programme

Tree Tour - Brad Cadwallader, NZ Notable Trees Trust
Saturday 11th of November 8.30am – 11.30am

Abstract
Tour bus will depart ITL Stadium at 8.30 a.m. and will initially travel to Anderson House & Park. Delegates will see several significant trees including the largest Chilean pine (Araucaria araucana) in NZ. We will take time to measure this tree to update the NZ Tree Register and also measure the large weeping wych elm (Ulmus glabra ‘Horizontalis’). The remainder of the tour will focus on visiting several other weeping elms, and hopefully spot any elusive Camperdown elms along the way.
We will then travel to Otepuni Gardens and walk through to Queens Park (2-3km) where delegates can then independently choose to take in the Masters Final of the NZTCC, and/or further explore the Gardens and then make their own way back to their accommodation.
(Come prepared for whatever weather might be encountered!).

2022 NZ Arb Annual Conference

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2022 NZ Arb Annual Conference
WELLINGTON
3-4 November Te Papa Tongarewa
See Registration & Programme

2020 NZ Arb Annual Conference

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2020 NZ Arb Annual Conference
Mon, 09 Nov | Queenstown Memorial Centre
9–10 Nov 2020

See the Programme & Register here

WINNER - NZTR Lockdown Quiz

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We are pleased to announce that we had two winners of the NZTR Lockdown Quiz who both top-scored with 13 points. They were GERALD COLLETT of Kumeu and HELENA HORSWELL of Helensville.

After conducting a tie-breaker we congratulate Helena Horswell who succeeded in winning the prize of a 1985 second-hand copy of S.W. Burstall & E.V Sale's classic 'Great Trees of New Zealand'.

Thank you to all who participated in the quiz.

ANSWERS to NZTR Lockdown Quiz #4 – Historic & Notable

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1) In what park is the poplar pictured here is located? What year was the image taken and what is the tree’s claim to fame?
A: Frimley Park, Hastings. The image was taken 1969. It is the largest known plains cottonwood in the world. See HBR/210

2) In what town or city is the greatest number of Camperdown elms recorded? Who is the tallest Camperdown elm in that city/town associated with?
A: Christchurch has the greatest number of Camperdown elms. The tree is associated with Henry Richard Webb. See CR/1387

3) The trees NR/749 and NR/73 are both located in Nelson but what else do they have in common?
A: Both trees were planted twice (replanted) by a different person the second time.

4) Where is the current national champion English oak located? Who is it named after? If you click on the sponsors banner at the top of the tree record for this tree where does it take you?
A: At the Grange, 276 Whakarewa St, Motueka, Tasman. It is named after Dr & Mrs J Sawford Greenwood. The banner links to Nelson Pine Industries Ltd website. See TSR/0694

5) How many Bunya pines are recorded on the register? What is the NZTR number of the tree with the largest girth in the bottom of the North Island? The tree is otherwise significant in what way?
A: There 47 bunya pines on the register. The NZTR # is WRR/1236. It was planted from seed brought from Australia by John Carne Bidwill who discovered the species in Australia, which is named after him.

6) Name three servicemen who have ANZAC commemorative trees planted in their memory.
A: There a numerous by text-based searching the word ANZAC or WWI or WWII

7) Where did Fed Naden get his pōhutukawa seedling from and who helped him plant it?
A: The seedling was found on a cliff at the northern end of Tokomaru Bay. His mother helped him plant it. See GR/1467

8) Where is the largest (combining height, girth and canopy spread) flowering tree in NZ located?
A: It is located at Roseburn; 130 McKendry Road, Outram, Otago - See OR/0640

9) Where was the second ranking monkey puzzle tree originally cultivated and subsequently planted?
A: The tree was cultivated in Devon and planted at J.B. Acland Mt Peel Station, Canterbury. See CR/1478

10) The tallest conifer in NZ is located where? When was it planted? And who was the stand it is located in dedicated to?
A: Sequoia sempervirens located in the Whakarewa Forest Memorial Grove see BPR/1438. It was planted in 1901. The Grove is dedicated to the NZ Forest Service members who died in WW1

NZTR Lockdown QUIZ #4 – Historic & Notable

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This is the LAST in our 4 quiz series where you can be in to win a 1985 second hand copy of S.W. Burstall & E.V Sale's classic 'Great Trees of New Zealand' (out of print and very collectable).

First correct answer gets 5 points, next 9 correct answers get 2 points. ALL ENTRIES get 1 point. Open to subscribers to NZ Notable Trees Trust, NZ Arb and RNZIH members and the general public, although NZ residents only (winner is to provide a NZ postal address for prize).

Answers to each quiz will be posted after the close of each quiz. ALL answers to each of the questions can be found on the NZ Notable Trees Trust website or NZ Tree Register and any associated links.

Simply cut-and-paste each questionnaire and email your answers to notabletrees@rnzih.org.nz or you can just do them for fun.

NZTR QUIZ 4 – Historic & Notable

1) In what park is the poplar pictured here located? What year was the image taken and what is the tree’s claim to fame?
2) In what town or city is the greatest number of Camperdown elms recorded? Who is the tallest Camperdown elm in that city/town associated with?
3) The trees 749 and 73 are both located in Nelson but what else do they have in common?
4) Where is the current national champion English oak located? Who is it named after? If you click on the sponsors banner at the top of the tree record for this tree where does it take you?
5) How many Bunya pines are recorded on the register? What is the NZTR number of the tree with the largest girth in the bottom of the North Island? The tree is otherwise significant in what way?
6) Name three servicemen who have ANZAC commemorative trees planted in their memory.
7) Where did Fed Naden get his pōhutukawa seedling from and who helped him plant it?
8) Where is the largest (combining height, girth and canopy spread) flowering tree in NZ located?
9) Where was the second ranking monkey puzzle tree originally cultivated and subsequently planted?
10) The tallest conifer in NZ is located where? When was it planted? And who was the stand it is located in dedicated to?

CLOSES 7pm Monday 04 May

Good Luck!

ANSWERS to NZTR Lockdown Quiz #3 - Our Indigenous Wonders

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1) Who can add a tree to the New Zealand Tree Register and what is the first step that is required to be able to do this?
A: Anyone can add a tree. The first step is to create a free account & login.

2) In what reserve is the NZ kauri that is situated close to the southern limit for the species? What is the NZTR number for the tree and who took the image?
A: Hakarimata Scenic Reserve. NZTR number is WKR/1330. Matt Smillie took the image. There are other naturally occurring kauri further south but they are not listed on the NZTR.

3) What was thought to have played a significant role in the demise of the mighty 'Toronui’? What year did it fall?
A: Wounding caused to the tree being extensively bled for its gum likely led to its demise. It fell in 1977. See NR/805.

4) What is the name of our largest (by girth) kauri?
A: Te Matua Ngahere - NR/0802

5) Who FIRST discovered the ‘Yakas’ kauri and what was it originally named?
A: This was a slightly confusing question. The botanist Leonard Cockayne first discovered the tree in 1907/8. It was referred to as the ‘Cockayne Kauri’ from that discovery and later named by hunters in the early 1960’s as ‘The Phantom Tree’. Its current name ‘Yakas Kauri’ was attributed to it in 1968. See NR/801.

6) Where is the third largest tōtara in the South Island located?
A: It is located (off Grange Road on private farmland), near Hapuku, Canterbury. see CR/1221

7) What species is the tallest living native tree listed in the register? How tall is it and how much taller has another well-documented tree of the same species been measured at?
A: Dacrydium cupressinum (rimu) is the tallest living native tree listed in the register. It is 53.1m tall [WKR/1241]. It would be 0.5m taller than a 53.6 m (unlisted) tree, measured by Bob Van Pelt on a hunter's track elsewhere in Pureora Forest Park.

8) Who discovered NZ’s champion rimu and how recently was it measured? What is its champion tree score?
A: It [WCR/1640] was discovered by Lindsay Molloy and he and Phil Barker measured it on 27 Jan 2020. The champion tree score is 449

9) Where is the northern rata pictured here located? What ranking for size (girth) does it currently have? Where are the largest co-champions now located?
A: It is located at Bushy Park near Wanganui [WGR/0371]. It is currently ranked the 6th largest Metrosideros robusta when ranked by girth. The two M. robusta in Akatarawa Forest, Upper Hutt with the largest girths [WTR/1291] and [WTR/0976] are national co-champions

10) Which puriri is often referred to as the largest in New Zealand?
A: The twin stemmed tree at Brooklands Park, New Plymouth [TR/0141] is often erroneously referred to as the largest in NZ.

Our final Quiz #4 will be posted at 3pm Next Thursday 30th April - Stay tuned!

NZTR Lockdown QUIZ #3 – Our Indigenous Wonders

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This is the THIRD in our 4 quiz series where you can be in to win a 1985 second hand copy of S.W. Burstall & E.V Sale's classic 'Great Trees of New Zealand' (out of print and very collectable).

First correct answer gets 5 points, next 9 correct answers get 2 points. ALL ENTRIES get 1 point. Open to subscribers to NZ Notable Trees Trust, NZ Arb and RNZIH members and the general public, although NZ residents only (winner is to provide a NZ postal address for prize).

NZTR Lockdown QUIZ #3 – Our Indigenous Wonders

1) Who can add a tree to the New Zealand Tree Register and what is the first step that is required to be able to do this?
2) In what reserve is the NZ kauri that is situated close to the southern limit for the species? What is the NZTR number for the tree and who took the image?
3) What was thought to have played a significant role in the demise of the mighty 'Toronui’? What year did it fall?
4) What is the name of our largest (by girth) kauri?
5) Who FIRST discovered the ‘Yakas’ kauri and what was it originally named?
6) Where is the third largest tōtara in the South Island located?
7) What species is the tallest living native tree listed in the register? How tall is it and how much taller has another well-documented tree of the same species been measured at?
8) Who discovered NZ’s champion rimu and how recently was it measured? What is its champion tree score?
9) Where is the northern rata pictured here located? What ranking for size (girth) does it currently have? Where are the largest co-champions now located?
10) Which puriri is often referred to as the largest in New Zealand?

CLOSES 7pm Monday 20 April

Good Luck!