The pohutukawa tree (Metrosideros excelsa) has been known as New Zealand’s Christmas Tree since the 1800’s.
It is naturally found all around the coast of the North Island, but sadly pests [such as the introduced possum] have decimated these forests by about 90%.
It’s red flowers are said to represent the blood of a young Maori warrior who fell to Earth and died. Tawhaki was trying to find Heaven, seeking help so that he could avenge the death of his father.
Translated, pohutukawa means ‘sprinkled by spray’, which is believed to be because of these trees being found along coastlines. They are capable of clinging to cliff tops and a grove of them exists on White Island, which is a local active volcano island here in the Bay of Plenty.
At Cape Reinga is a pohutukawa tree that is venerated here. Known as the ‘place of leaping’, it is from here that the spirits of the dead leap off the headland, climbing down the roots of the tree and begin their journey back to their homeland – Hawaiiki.
At Te Araroa is what is believed to be the largest pohutukawa. Named “Te-Waha-O-Rerekohu”, the tree is over 20 metres high and is 40 metres in diameter. it is estimated that “Te-Waha-O-Rerekohu” is over 350 years old. and the name is derived from a local chief who lived in the area – Rerekohu.
While my neighbours’ pohutukawa is not yet famous…it is beautiful, and in flower.
In 1941 this carol was composed by Father Ted Forsman while he was serving in the Libyan Desert.
A Pohutukawa Carol
Now crimson, crimson Christmas trees
Pohutukawas rim our seas
And flower to flame on every shore
For joy of him whom Mary bore.
Chorus: Babe so poor and small
Jesus God of all
O with us abide
This holy Christmas-tide.
Long raise, O trees about our land,
Your crimson sign on every strand
That we may tell each Christmas morn
Why Jesus was of Mary born.
Such trees gave wood to make his cot,
And all his toys from trees he got,
And when he came to ply a trade
He shaped from trees the things he
made.
Because a tree had brought us doom,
Was Jesus born of Mary’s womb,
To blossom high on Calvary’s tree
The crimson bloom that makes us free.
And I think you might enjoy hearing these guys sing “Pohutukawa Tree”…just a little !!
How lovely! Have a Merry Christmas!
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Thank you Eldy – you too !!!!
🙂
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Beautiful tree, and what a beautiful flower!
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PS: Happy Holidays!
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And the same to you Angeline.
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Isn’t it just !!!
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The tree is beautiful and so is the carol.
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Thanks Imelda. I love them both.
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Your pictures of the buds are fantastic – they’re a bit like furry reindeer nubs, with christmassy tassels about to emerge. Lovely 🙂
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I just love how you look at things.
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Holy pohutukawa Batman!
Now that is a Christmas tree, assuredly as proud as a peacock does it display its colours. On a pizzazz scale it beats the spruce I risked life and limb to murder last weekend. You have definitely have it all here; the script, the notes, the voices and pictures all wrapped up in Christmas Spirit. Merry Christmas to ya!
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And a Merry christmas to you to HH !!! Love your comment…it made me smile
.
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It’s beautiful! But possums kill them?
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Yep – they sure do. Strip them bare the wee buggers
😦
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What a wonderful post Jo, beauty, culture, folklore and those cute kids too!
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Thanks Gilly. I am thrilled you think so !!!!!
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What a weird name for such a beautiful tree. It’s got a nice history too, they do like Christmas tree, in a way.
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It is Maori…does it seem THAT weird ? Guess I am just used to it.
😉
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It’s a beautiful tree, gorgeous flower!
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It is one of my favourites Barb…they are so beautiful to look at.
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BEAUTIFUL TREES. Love your post.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
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Thanks Francine. I appreciate your saying so a lot.
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Ah the beauty of the pohutukawa it means Christmas to me. Beautiful photos
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Me too these days PP.
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Have a really happy Christmas Jo
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You too PP. I wish you lots of joy !!!!
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Simply wonderful–not just the tree but loved all the info. Happy holidays Jo!
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Thanks ma’am…
I hope your holidays are full of joy !!!
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If its not famous it should be. It’s fabulous! 🙂
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I’ll tell the neighbours you said that Gemma !!!!!!!!!!!
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New Zealand has so many beautiful native plants and trees! Every year I get my wife some honey imported from New Zealand, this year it’s going to be Manuka and Blue Borage.
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Manuka…my favourite honey…and so good for you !!!!!!!
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My 3 year old has started to be able to tell the difference in honeys. ‘Hmm, manuka!’ or ‘Hmm, Hawaiian Macadamia!’
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Ohhhhhh Peter…that is an already scary three year old.
😉
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Also getting expensive to have an 3 year old epicure in the house too!
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I bet it is and it will only get worse I imagine.
😆
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The pictures are beautiful! This tree looks similar to a tree in the US that we call a “bottle brush tree”. Well, at least that’s what I’ve always known it to be called – I’m sure it’s not native to the area, so now I’m wondering if it just might really be pohutukawa tree! And I really enjoyed the video of the kids singing! Thank you for sharing, and Merry Christmas!
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Bottlebrush is a bit different. Their flowers look like round brushes where this one doesn’t.
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Ahhh….ok. Well, I like them both! 🙂 And I would love to visit New Zealand some day to see them in person!
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Beautiful New Zealand’s Christmas Tree! Lovely kids singing!
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I must admit Amy – I love these trees…especially when you see them on the beach…stunning.
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Beautiful, Jo. This tree reminds me of our Callistemon, or bottle brush tree. I believe they were imported from new Zealand. Loved the carol. I wish I had my piano here. i could have played along. 🙂 Merry Christmas to you. xx
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ad, the callistemon is from australia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callistemon), i cant let NZ take credit for such a super gorgeous plant …. he he! would love to hear you playing the carol too 😀
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They do look similar…but yet not. So glad you liked it AD>
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Merry Christmas to you and yours.
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Merry Christmas Jo, I lost you from my reader but you are back again now … i love that tree, thanks for marvellous photos to cheer us with!
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They are too beautiful not to share…and i love that you like them so much
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What a lovely post Jo 🙂 it’s so nice to hear of other people’s traditions and legends about celebratory times such as Christmas . Love that tree it’s’ self decorated’ for the Festive Season 😀
Happy Christmas to you !
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Thanks Poppy – so glad to hear that you enjoyed the post.
Merry Christmas to you too.
🙂
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This time, last Christmas, I was enjoying those lovely trees on the beach of Lake Taupo. That was the most fantastic Christmas I have ever had. NZ is so beautiful and the pohutukawas too. I wish I was back there again! Great post! Merry Christmas!
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Thanks…so glad to hear you liked it here.
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I really loved the video of the kids singing Pohutukawa Tree. Kids are always beautiful when they sing. And I was surprised to read the song you’ve added, written in 1941 in Libya, because I too posted a song from that year in North Africa, probably Egypt. Great minds…
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Most definitely great minds I think.
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Gorgeous! This tree certainly doesn’t need any ornaments to make it look Christmasy!
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No she doesn’t. I love the pohutukawas in NZ.
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Awesome post!
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Thanks…it is an awesome tree.
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I feel homesick now Jo! Merry Christmas!
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sorry Robyn…I know how you feel though when I see photos of Sydney.
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I’m working on spiders – will those make you homesick? Hey – do you have any Australian spider photos you’d like to give some exposure to? 😀
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Nah – not a one…nope…not necessary at all.
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Oh well – it was worth a shot! Not sure if that pun was intended or not! 😀
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😉
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This amazing beautiful Christmas tree.
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Thank you…we sure love the pohutukawa here in New Zealand.
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You learn something every day in the blogosphere.
MERRY CHRISTMAS JO!!!! Bwahahahahaha
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That you do Rommel, that you do !
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Hi, thanks for sharing this article on the Byteful Travel Blog Carnival. Stop by and take a look and say hi. I look forward to hearing from you.
Jim
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Thanks Jim. Will do.
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What a nice plant ! I love these red flowers !
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Thanks you. I love these guys too.
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