Trees fit for a king

Coronation Day – Cambridge 2023

Mayor Susan O’Regan and Cambridge Community Board chair Jo Davies-Colley had no shortage of help when planting a European lime in Victoria Square. From left, twins Viv and Maddie Storey-Ross, 6, and Piper Johns, 7, get stuck in watched by Brigadier Jon Broadley while the Cambridge Brass Band plays on. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Formal ceremonies, and cucumber sandwiches, marked Waipā’s contribution to the coronation of King Charles on Saturday.

Mayor Susan O’Regan was tasked with helping plant two European lime trees in te Awamutu and Cambridge on a morning where rain had threatened but stayed away.

In Te Awamutu Anglican minister and The News columnist Julie Guest gave an insight into the traditions which would be followed during the Coronation in London, which did turn on rain for the event.

Iwi representing Ngati Māhanga and Ngati Apakura helped the mayor in Te Awamutu, school children assisted in Cambridge.

The Te Awamutu event was at Victoria Park, the Cambridge one at Victoria Square.

The Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board, led by Ange Holt, and Cambridge board, led by Jo Davies-Colley, played key roles in setting up the events.

The mayor told The News she was “a bit of a traditionalist”.

“I was brought up in a very royal household in terms of our ethos and thinking around tradition and the church and the role of the state. It would have to be a very comprehensive national discussion in order (for me) to change.

“It’s part of our history. Going forward people might want to have a discussion, but personally I err on the side of the tradition.”

She admires the new king, particularly for his love of conservation and organic farming, she said.

Thomas Lord (Ngati Māhanga) and Kingi Turner (right, Ngati Apakura) helped mayor Susan O’Regan plant a European lime tree in Te Awamutu. Photo: Roy Pilott.