A humble lemon tree has been the subject of a special service and blessing led by a pair of bishops and ministers from opposite ends of the earth.
This, however, was no ordinary lemon tree but one thought to be descended from the first fruit trees planted at New Zealand's first European settlement, founded in the northern Bay of Islands 200 years ago.
In 2009 Eric Hansen of Ruakaka rediscovered a lemon tree near the site of Rangihoua Mission Station, established by the Rev Samuel Marsden in 1814 under the protection of Chief Ruatara.
The tree is thought to have been planted by, or at least descended from trees planted by the mission station's original settlers, who include Mr Hansen's ancestors.
Cuttings have since been propagated with young trees distributed to family members and planted at significant sites such the grounds of Kemp House in Kerikeri.
On December 28 another of the "Hansen lemon trees" - named after Thomas Hansen, the country's first non-missionary settler - was planted at Te Waimate Mission Station, another of the country's oldest European settlements and the site of its first European-style farm.
Among those present for the planting and blessing were the Bishops of Te Tai Tokerau and Auckland, Kitohi Pikaahu and Ross Bay; Rev Sarah Stevens of Waimate North; and Rev Samuel Marsden of Cornwall, a great-great-great grandson of the original Rev Marsden.
The tree is thought to be a Lisbon or Australian bush lemon. Lemon trees were carried on board ships in the 18th and 19th centuries to combat scurvy.