June 14, 2002

One Tree Hill is going to get its tree back – several times over.

Auckland Mayor John Banks and dignitaries from Ngati Whatua and the Crown, will plant six pohutukawa at a dawn ceremony on the summit on Saturday, June 29.

The six trees include seedling pohutukawa taken from the trunk of the former Monterey pine tree, One Tree Hill’s icon and seedlings propagated from suitable parent trees from One Tree Hill Domain.

The planting ceremony will start with a karakia led by a Ngati Whatua representative at 6.30am. The summit road will be closed to vehicles for the duration of the planting, but pedestrian access will stay open.

The planting on One Tree Hill is a culmination of several years of planning and liaison between Ngati Whatua and Auckland City Council officials, who ensured that all planting and procedural issues were considered before the event took place.

“It is good to see the council and Ngati Whatua working well together on this important project, and especially planting the trees during Matariki (Maori New Year) is a real bonus,” says Councillor Scott Milne, Chairman of the Recreation and Events Committee.

The Greenland Motor Vehicle Dealers Association will meet the cost of the $6500 tree planting and ceremony as a donation to the local community.

The council will pay maintenance costs of about $5800 a year.

“It’s great to see well-known Greenlane identities help with the cost of planting the trees; it shows true community spirit,” says Councillor Milne.

ENDS

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