Long live the King’s trees.
Many were planted around the South over the weekend to mark the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and will remain for future generations to admire.
In Queenstown, about 75 people attended a commemorative tree planting at Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens on Saturday morning, where Queenstown Lakes Mayor Glyn Lewers, Southland MP Joseph Mooney and Queenstown Lakes District Council community services general manager Kenneth Bailey planted a young totara before unveiling a plaque.
Mr Bailey said the council had chosen a "world-class spot to acknowledge the occasion", noting the King had exhibited a life-long dedication to protecting the land.
Mr Lewers said the King understood the importance of protecting the environment and had raised awareness of climate change for many years.
"If we take care of it, it will be here 1000 years from today."
Native trees were also planted across the Waitaki to commemorate the coronation.
Mayor Gary Kircher and Te Rūnanga o Moeraki representative Dr Robert Sullivan hosted a ceremony at the Oamaru Public Gardens, which was attended by about 50 people.
Totara trees were also planted in Omarama and Palmerston.
Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan and parks contractor Kirsty Gresswell marked the coronation with a liquid amber tree, chosen for its seasonal colour change, at Alexandra’s Pioneer Park.
Invercargill deputy mayor Tom Campbell said he was 2 years old during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, when the tradition was to hand a silver coin to a baby — and he still held the five-shilling coin that was placed in his pram.
"This tree that we planted, kids are going to come and visit that probably for the next 70 or 80 years, and it was great seeing young kids here today.
"That’s what it means to me — it’s about continuity, about stability, it’s about being able to think about the future from a position of confidence in the present," he said.
