NZ plants tree to mark coronation of King Charles

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins on Wednesday planted a native tōtara tree in Parliament's grounds to mark the upcoming coronation of Britain's King Charles III. The ceremony was an early start to a campaign to plant 100,000 native trees around New Zealand. The government has donated 1 million New Zealand dollars toward the effort.

Hipkins said his office had liaised with the British palace over the best way to mark the coronation. Hipkins hoped to get as many New Zealanders as possible planting trees after King Charles's coronation on May 6 at Westminster Abbey in London, which will mark the official launch of the planting campaign.