He Mahere a Te Atua Mo Koe

When people think of Kirihimete trees they often think of pine trees. However, in Aotearoa, the Pohutukawa tree is often called our Kirihimete tree. It is often seen on Kirihimete items in stores. One reason is because it is the traditional Kirihimete colours of whero and kakariki. It also flowers around Kirihimete time.

So how did the Pohutukawa tree come to be known as our Kirihimete tree?

In 1833 Henry Williams held a Kirihimete church service underneath the native Pohutukawa.

It wasn’t until 1867 that it was written down that the Pohutukawa tree was thought of as a Kirihimete tree by New Zealanders.

Ferdinand von Hochstetter noted that the early pakeha settlers decorated their churches and homes with its branches and beautiful whero flowers.

In 1941 a Kirihimete carol was written about the Pohutukawa tree. Ted Forsman said that the tufts (flowers) were “our snow”.