National Living Memorial Considered For Coromandel

Planting a memorial grove of thousands of native trees to commemorate New Zealand's fallen soldiers is being considered for the Coromandel.

Chris Adams, the first CEO of Tourism Coromandel, who now runs a successful marketing tourism consultancy, approached Mayor Glenn Leach several months ago with the concept of planting a national living memorial for Gallipoli and/or World War One soldiers within the Coromandel.

"Since that meeting I've spoken with DOC, iwi, kauri 2000, regional and central government representatives, all who are really interested in the proposal," says Mayor Leach.

"Our Council's involvement is very much just getting in behind and facilitating this project," says Mayor Leach. "The first step we have taken is just setting up a meeting with all interested parties to be held in September."

"This meeting will look at concepts and appropriate spaces to plant," says Mayor Leach.

"The wonderful thing is that everyone I've spoken to so far is really passionate and interested as this is a project which would be is a legacy for our future generations and a memorial to our past," says the Mayor.

Mr Adams says a "National Memorial Forest” within the Coromandel would be a ‘living’ monument commemorating those who fought for our nation and also help to restore a special part of New Zealand’s natural landscape.

As such it would hopefully have appeal to visitors from across the country (and around the world).

"Though something of this size would be unique in New Zealand - there are a number of overseas examples of living forests memorialising the fallen from World War I and/or II," says Mr Adams. "Some commemorate not just the fallen soldier - but a tree for every veteran, which is a more ambitious version of the ‘fallen soldier’ forest," says Mr Adams.

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