Tree walks into finals

Karamea’s "walking tree" has been named as a finalist for the New Zealand Tree of the Year. The competition invites New Zealanders to select their favourite from a shortlist of six much-loved trees spread across the country.

Last month, the public was invited to nominate a tree they consider special and asked to tell its story and share the reasons they think it should be Tree of the Year. With twin trunks stretched as if they are mid-stride — and wearing high heels — the Karamea tree made the cut.

Located near the Karamea Cemetery, it has an appearance like one of Tolkien’s sentient, tree-like Ents. It is a northern rātā (Metrosideros robusta), one of New Zealand’s tallest flowering trees. Northern rātā can live for up to 1000 years, so who knows how long this windswept walker has been strutting its stuff just north of Karamea. Voting is open until May 31 at www.treeoftheyear.co.nz with the winning tree to be announced on June 5.