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Tree Information x

Identifier: WTR/2000
Tree Type: Single
Registered By: Lloyd, M.
Registration Category: Historic tree – National interest
General Notes:
Named the ‘Royal Pōhutukawa’ due to its planting by the Prince of Wales on May 7, 1920, this Metrosideros excelsa is sited in front of Parliament House, very close to the statue of Richard Seddon. The so-called ‘soldier prince’ [1] was very popular with New Zealanders of the time, with newspaper reports stating that 15,000 children greeted him in front of Parliament House during the welcoming ceremony, only part of which was devoted to the planting of the pōhutukawa [2]. Given the site at which the pōhutukawa grows, large gatherings were thereafter not uncommon: the young tree can be seen to the bottom left in the historic photo from 1927, another ceremony for a royal visit [3]; and a much larger tree can be seen in the 1975 photograph showing a gathering of Māori land marchers [4]. During the Covid-19 protest occupation of Parliament grounds, on March 2, 2022, the slide very close to the pōhutakawa was set on fire, also burning one side of the tree. The slide was destroyed but has since been rebuilt, and as the photographs show the tree has survived, only requiring some pruning of large branches [ Lloyd, M., 2024].

[1] David Colquhoun, ‘Royal scenes from the Empire City: The Prince of Wales in Wellington, 5-8 May 1920’, Turnbull Library Record, 2009: 12-33.
[2] ‘Children’s Day’, New Zealand Times, May 8, 1920, p. 7.
[3] Arrival of the Duke and Duchess of York, Parliament grounds, Wellington. Crown Studios Ltd. Ref: 1/1-032525-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington. /records/22879927
[4] Tents and belongings of Maori land marchers, Parliament grounds, Wellington, Dominion Post: Ref: EP/1975/4574/25-f. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington. /records/22892922

Single Tree Details

Genus: Metrosideros
Species: excelsa
Common names: pōhutukawa,
Given Name: Royal Pōhutukawa
Height: 12.00m
Height measurement method: Estimated
Height Comments: (none)
Girth: 0 cm
Girth measurement height: 0 m
Girth Comments: multi-trunk
Diameter: 0 cm
Crown Spread A: 15.00m
Crown Spread B: 10.00m
Avg. Crown Spread: 12.50m
Actual Planting Date: May 1920
Approx. Planting Date:
e.g. circa. 1860
Current Age: 104 years
Tree Health Description: excellent - recovering from burn damage at the north-east side
Tree Form Type: Multi-trunk
Number of Trunks: 5
Tree Form Comments: typical multi-trunk, wider than it is high
Champion Tree Score: 0
Local Protection Status: Yes
Tree Present: Yes
STEM Score: 0

Observations

Date Observer Action
05 Sep 2024 Lloyd, M.

Location

Lat/Long: -41.27804314077089 / 174.77741743624213
Location Name: New Zealand Parliament Grounds
Address: Molesworth St side of Parliament Grounds
Suburb: Thorndon
City/Town: Wellington
Region: Wellington
Location Description: In front of Parliament House, just below Richard Seddon statue
Public Accessibility: Public Walkway
Local Authority: Greater Wellington Regional Council

Images

Preview Credit Date
Michael Lloyd 19 Aug 2024
Michael Lloyd 19 Aug 2024
Michael Lloyd 19 Aug 2024
Michael Lloyd 19 Aug 2024
Evening Post staff photographer 29 Oct 1975
Crown Studios Wellington 05 Sep 1927
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