Vote Now for New Zealand's Tree of the Year!

I love trees, especially the old ones that have stood the test of time and seem as though they have a story to tell with every branch.

There are two beautiful old trees very close to where I live that are my favourites. One I call the "Wishing Tree", and the other is a magnificent tree now known as Old Goff. This year, Old Goff has made it into the finals of the Rākau o te Tau – New Zealand Tree of the Year competition!

This competition celebrates remarkable trees that are part of our lives and communities, along with the stories that make them so special. It's not about finding the biggest or oldest tree, but recognising those that have become part of our local history and the memories we share.

Each year, New Zealanders nominate a tree that means something to them and share its story. An expert panel then has the difficult task of selecting just six finalists from around the country before the public is invited to vote for the tree they believe deserves to be crowned New Zealand's Tree of the Year.

This year, one of Hobsonville's best-loved landmarks has made the final six, and it already has my vote!

Voting closes at midnight today (8 July 2026), so if you'd like to support this incredible tree, there's still time to cast your vote. The winner will be announced tomorrow, 9 July.

🌿 Vote here:
https://www.treeoftheyear.co.nz/

If you are in this area, or not too far away check it our at 5 Williams Road, this magnificent Angophora costata, also known as the Sydney red gumor smooth-barked apple, is believed to be around 146 years old. Even more remarkably, it is recognised as the largest Angophora of its kind in the world.

The Sydney red gum is native to eastern Australia, where it was known by the Aboriginal people of the Sydney region as kajimbourra. Its smooth bark naturally peels away each year, revealing beautiful shades of cream, pink, orange and soft grey that make it one of the most striking trees you'll ever see.

For the purposes of the competition, the tree has been named "Old Goff". While many long-standing Hobsonville families haven't traditionally called it that, the name simply helps identify this remarkable tree in the competition.

A Tree with a Story

A small plaque at the base of the tree reads:

"Angophora costata (Smooth Barked Apple). Local legend says Governor Hobson planted the tree."

It's a charming story, but history suggests otherwise.

Captain William Hobson (1792–1842), New Zealand's first Governor and the namesake of Hobsonville, died decades before the tree is believed to have been planted. The New Zealand Tree Register estimates it dates from around 1880, and there is no evidence Governor Hobson ever visited Hobsonville.

What seems far more likely is that the tree was planted by one of Hobsonville's pioneering families.

The Wiseley and Carder families lived on Williams and Wiseley Roads and were known for planting significant trees throughout the area. The Angophora may have been planted when the house at 1 Williams Road was built for John Wiseley, son-in-law of early settler Joshua Carder, with the home constructed by John Danby, the same carpenter who built Hobsonville Church.

These families left a wonderful living legacy. The magnificent oak that gave Oakpark Place its name was planted in 1867 by Harry de Frene to celebrate the twelfth birthday of Annie Carder, who later married John Wiseley. Years later, Gladys "Glad" Wiseley Armstrong planted the beautiful pōhutukawa that still stands proudly on the corner of Hobsonville and Williams Roads today.

It's lovely to think that someone from one of these pioneering families may also have planted the Angophora that has watched over Hobsonville for nearly 150 years.

Voting closes at midnight today (8 July 2026), so if you'd like to support this incredible tree, there's still time to cast your vote. The winner will be announced tomorrow, 9 July.

🌿 Vote here:
https://www.treeoftheyear.co.nz/

"The search for New Zealand's most interesting tree."