Peace Tree Reserve

Photo shows a new neighbourhood park, with a small playground, Japanese-style garden and picnic tables.

A cutting of a plant that survived the Nagasaki bombing and has been lovingly been cared for over the past 16 years is one of the key features at Peace Tree Reserve.

The 0.23ha reserve on the corner of Silicon Way and Pacific Drive was purchased in 2006 when the development of the area was getting underway. In 2021 it was developed to make the site the permanent home to a cutting that survived the 1945 Nagasaki bombing.
 
Photo shows woman sitting on a rock looking at the peace tree, with swings and a climbing fort with a slide in the background.
The cuttings were gifted to all New Zealand cities in 2006 as part of the "Mayor for Peace" initiative composed of cities around the world that had formally expressed support for the 'Programme to Promote the Solidarity of Cities toward the Total Abolition of Nuclear Weapons'.

Palmerston North's cutting had been sitting at the council's nursery, where it's been lovingly cared for over the years.

Photo shows the Peace Tree.  

You can spot the Peace Tree at the centre of the park. It symbolises the important relationship between New Zealand and Japan, and influenced the name of the new reserve.

At one end of the reserve New Zealand natives are on show, and then a boardwalk connects to a Japanese themed garden. Different Japanese-style plants are on show surrounded by a pebble pathway. There are small stones which face large rocks to symbolise good luck and prosperity. There are also Yukimi-gata lanterns to provide light to the peace tree cutting, which sits in the Japanese garden. The fence has seven horizontal palings which symbolise good luck.

The reserve has a natural theme to it, with wooden picnic tables, swing seat, playground, swings and a drinking fountain.

Location

Peace Tree Reserve, Silicon Way, Fitzherbert 4410  View Map

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Features

  • Dogs prohibited
  • Drinking fountain
  • Picnic tables
  • Playground
  • Seating
  • Walkway
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