Tree planting as a form of commemoration

Plaques, benches, statues, arches, stained glass window panes and many other things are commonly used to commemorate events (e.g. coronation of King Edward VIII), celebrate certain days (e.g. Arbour Day) or to remember people who have passed away (e.g. soldiers who fell during a war).

Tree planting is another way of marking and creating significance at these occasions and beyond. From digging the hole, the planting event itself to the ceremony, these stages can be viewed through the photographs drawn from the heritage collections at Auckland Libraries.

Digging the hole:

Ref: AWNS-19360527-50-5, tree planting ceremony, 1936, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Digging the tree in:

Ref: AWNS-19370519-55-3, tree planting ceremony in Invercargill, 1937, Sir George Grey Special Collections

The crowds gather:

Ref: AWNS-19020821-1-2, Coronation Day in Wanganui, 1902, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Formal commemorations:

Ref: Ref: AWNS-19020814-2-1, Sir John Logan Campbell planting the commemoration oak tree at Parnell School on the occasion of the coronation of King Edward VIII, 1902, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-19210922-34-2, the Mayor of Invercargill planting a tree to commemorate the Jubilee celebrations, 1921, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-19110706-5-5, the Mayor of Daragaville planting a tree for the coronation commemoration, 1911, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Local commemorations:

Ref: AWNS-19191002-41-3, the Mayor of Bay of Plenty planting a commemoration tree in memory of the soldiers from Whakatane who fell during the war, 1919, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: JTD-13K-01034-1, tree planting ceremony at Oratia School Jubilee, 1957, West Auckland Research Centre

Arbor Day:

Ref:     N0109004, Tree planting at Northcote Wharf on Arbor Day, 1909, North Auckland Research Centre

Ref: AWNS-19120822-14-2, tree planting at a East Coast Native School as part of Arbor Day, 1912, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-19120725-4-1, teaching Auckland School children about afforestation on Arbor Day at the Auckland Domain, 1912, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: N0111019, tree planting in Northcote on Arbor Day, 1915, North Auckland Research Centre