Rākau o te tau/Tree of the Year 2026
05 June 2026 - 08 July 2026
Region(s): Nationwide
Type(s): competitions
Rākau o te tau/Tree of the Year Aotearoa is for all New Zealanders. An interactive celebration of the special trees that are part of our lives and communities.
Rākau o te tau/Tree of the Year is not about the most beautiful tree, but about the stories and heritage that connect us to our trees. Will it be a tree steeped in history? A beloved community landmark? A quiet giant with an extraordinary story?
2026 Finalists
Ancient Pūriri in Brooklands Park, New Plymouth
Mighty Old Mataī in Macandrew Bay, Otago
Kissing Tree in Christchurch CBD
The Sangro Survivor in Pukekohe, Auckland
The Bucket Tree/Earp Macrocarpa in Tawa
Old Goff in Hobsonville, Auckland
Voting is now open, and closes at midnight on 8 July 2026.
For more information and to vote: www.treeoftheyear.co.nz.
Follow them on:
#TreeOfTheYearNZ #ArborDay #LoveTrees #TreeStories #TreeOfTheYear2026
Related content
Find out more about our native trees in the article New Zealand native trees – an introduction. It curates resources regarding the role of trees in native ecosystems, global cycles, their evolution and so much more.
The recorded webinar Our native trees introduces some readily available resources from the Hub and the Department of Conservation.
Teaching in te reo Māori? We have a series of articles exploring trees available here.
See our tree Pinterest board for a range of resources.
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