The first Scottish settlers reached Waipu on September 1, 1854. This small group was on its second migration, from Nova Scotia, Canada, which they left due to economic hardship. As the community of Scottish migrants grew in Waipu new migrants similarly came from Nova Scotia, but many also arrived from Scotland itself (predominantly the Highlands) [1]. To mark the birth of twins in June 1864, Robert and Isabella Campbell planted two macrocarpa trees for their sons Norman (Bricky) and Roderick (Rory). Over time the two trees have merged and now have one massive joined trunk. Norman died in 1943 and Roderick in 1946, and a plaque now marks the significance of the two macrocarpas (see photo). Waipu cemetery is an historic site and the Google images associated with it show many photos of the massive macrocarpa amongst the gravestones. Whereas it has had many branches pruned off it is still the dominant tree in the landscape (Lloyd, M., 2025).

Acknowledgement: Thanks to Michael and Karen van Beek, Waipu Cemetery sextons, for information and the photographs.
1. ‘The Waipu Settlers Monument’, Back Roads blogpost at: https://northlandhistory.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-waipu-settlers-monument-1914.html