The Governor-General, the Hon Anand Satyanand, is to continue a long-standing tradition of planting a pine tree in the Wellington Botanic Garden to honour its first manager and director.
The Governor-General will plant the tree, a pinus muricata, in the James Hector Pinetum at 9.30am on Saturday 28 July and media are welcome to attend.
The Pinetum, which is a collection of pine trees, was established in 1992 to recognise the work of Sir James Hector, who was Manager and Director of the Garden from 1869 to 1891. In 2004, a memorial to Sir James was installed in the Pinetum and His Excellency will be the fourth Governor-General to plant a pine tree in his honour.
The Pinetum is located very close to the Mariri Road, Kelburn entrance to the Garden. The tree planting ceremony will be simple and will involve a welcome by the President of the Friends of the Botanic Garden, Ted Woodfield, comments by the Deputy Mayor, Alick Shaw, and a short speech the Governor-General before planting the tree.
Following this, Winsome Shepherd, author of the History of the Botanic Garden, and a member of the Hector family, David Hector, a great-grandson of Sir James, will open two recently installed entrance ways to the Pinetum and then committee member Phil Tomlinson will conduct a guided tour.
For further information please contact:
Frank Wilson
Secretary
Friends of the Botanic Garden
Tel 04 475 7337
Email [email protected]
Or Antony Paltridge
Government House
04-382-0827