Tree planting ceremony to honour victims of the Christchurch shootings at Whangarei Falls
School children, parents and teachers were among more than 100 people who together planted 51 trees in Whangārei to honour the victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings.
The idea for the planting of native trees to remember those who lost their lives in the March attacks came from a studentwho was on the Curious Minds-Possible Worlds programme.
Child Flight Charitable Trust CEO Chris Jordan, whose wife Kathryn Pavlovich developed and teaches Curious Minds-Possible Worlds, said as part of the programme students were asked to discuss a community project.
The course was held not long after the mosque shootings and one student came up with the idea of planting a tree for each victim as a way of remembering them.
Jordan said the Saturday event started with an emotional powhiri which was followed by speeches and then the planting of the trees at the Otuihau Whangārei Falls.
Whangārei Intermediate School principal Hayley Read, Professor Kathryn Pavlovich and Child Flight Charitable Trust CEO Chris Jordan. Photo / Michael Cunningham
More than 100 people helped plant the 51 native trees. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Parents, teachers and students plant trees. Photo / Michael Cunningham
The shovels ahead of a day of planting. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Jehad Mostafa, Yara Musa and Suhil Musa get stuck in. Photo / Michael Cunningham
A tree ready to be planted. Photo / Michael Cunningham
