trinity of trees

Three native trees surround the Cathedral’s courtyard - Karaka, Tōtara & Kauri. This trinity of trees reminds us of the relationship of our triune God, divine oneness encircling our lives and work. Each tree tells its own story.

KARAKA - representing taiao - land and creatures
Our Cathedral sits on the slope of an ancient pā site, once home to a magnificent grove of karaka trees filled with kākā birds, their sound so loud that the hill became known as Pūkākā (sound of kākā).

TŌTARA - representing rangatiratanga - leadership
He tōtara haemata - a lofty tōtara
The tall strong-growing tōtara tree is a symbol of strength and leadership. “A great lofty tōtara of the forest has fallen” is often heard with a rangatira (chief) has passed away. And these were the words spoken of St Mary’s priest Henry Govett by his Māori friends when he died in 1898.

KAURI - representing whakawhanaungatanga - faithful relationship
This is an introduced native, Kauri don’t usually grow south of Waikato. It was planted by local historian William Skinner and his wife Margaret on 5th October 1940 to mark their 60th wedding anniversary. When Te Whare Hononga was built in 2023 special consideration was given to the root system of the Kauri. The tree health of the tree came first.