Mercury Bay gets behind WWI Memorial Forest project

The New Zealand World War I Memorial Forest project has taken another step forward with a $5,000 grant from Mercury Bay Community Board.

The grant, from the Board's discretionary fund, will go towards the creation of 2779 small white wooden crosses to be erected on a paddock on Public Conservation Land above Cathedral Cove. The grant will pay for wood and paint for the crosses and site preparation.

The paddock site, which adjoins the walkway immediately above Cathedral Cove, is one of several sites dotted across the Coromandel where the 18,166 trees for the Memorial Forest will be planted starting this year.

The Forest is to commemorate all the New Zealand soldiers who died in WWI.

As each site will represent a major battle or campaign which New Zealand forces took part in, this Cathedral Cove site will represent the Gallipoli campaign.

"We're very happy on the Community Board to be a part of this great project paying tribute to those New Zealanders who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War I," says Paul Kelly, chairperson of the Mercury Bay Community Board.

"The Memorial Forest isomething the whole Coromandel community can take part in, whether it's by volunteering to help plant trees over the next few years or by buying a tree to be planted at one of the sites.

"A cross for each of these soldiers will be placed in a cluster at the site to serve as a visible reminder of the battle's toll while the young trees take root and grow," Mr Kelly said.

Students from Mercury Bay Area School will get involved by building the crosses, with wood to be sourced from a local provider.

Final decisions on other sites for the Memorial Forest are yet to be made, but at this stage it is proposed that the Battle of Passchendaele be remembered at the new Whitianga Cemetery, with the Thames War Memorial honouring the Battle of Messines Ridge as well as a separate site on the entrance to Thames to specifically remember the war dead from the town.

Other sites will be the Tangitarori Lane walkway from Pauanui-Hikuai which will honour thePalestine campaign, and the Battle of Le Quesnoy at Whangamata.

Other sites are still under investigation for the remaining battles to be commemorated.

In late January, Council officially endorsed the Memorial Forest project, agreeing to act as underwriter for the estimated $452,000 cost of the forest project over the next 10 years.

Costs are to be recouped from grants from external agencies and from sale of the trees to the public.

The project, which is also known as "Te Wao Whakamaumaharatanga" (the Forest of Memories), will commence with initial planting on Anzac Day this year, with a push for more intensive planting with schools and volunteer groups in the autumn months. On average 6000 trees will need to be planted each year, with the forests completed by Armistice Day - November 11, 2018.

Each tree will be numbered and plotted on GPS, and members of the public will be able to purchase a tree for $100, which they will be able to locate and visit to honour a fallen soldier.

We will be looking for at least 3000 people to purchase a tree in order to meet funding targets, but will welcome as many purchasers as are willing to come forward.

To purchase a tree go to the TCDC project webpage and register your interest.

The project will see contractors undertaking initial site preparation such as digging the holes and staking, numbering and plotting GPS for each site, with volunteers involved in the initial planting and maintenance. To ensure long-term care, contractors will be working with volunteer groups to look after each tree.

TCDC is working with a variety of agencies including DOC, WRC, Forest and Bird, kauri 2000 and local RSAs. Other groups and agencies are very welcome to get on board the project.

Working groups are still being formed - if you want to get involved in one of these or volunteer to help plant trees please get in touch with Council's Economic Development Programme Manager Ben Dunbar-Smith on 07 868 0200 or email ben.dunbar-smith@tcdc.govt.nz.

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