The Bucket Tree

For more than a century, this remarkable tree has been known locally as either the Earp Macrocarpa or the Bucket Tree. Planted in the 1850s on Boscobel Farm in Tawa, it dates back to the earliest years of European settlement in the area and is named after the property's original owner, William Earp.

What makes this macrocarpa (Hesperocyparis macrocarpa) truly unique is its distinctive shape. Since around 1879, it has been regularly trimmed into the form of an upturned bucket, creating a silhouette unlike any other tree in New Zealand. Generation after generation has maintained this unusual tradition, preserving not only the tree itself but also the story behind it.

Today, the Bucket Tree stands as a living landmark and a rare example of a tree shaped by people over nearly 150 years. While many historic trees are valued for their size or age, this one is celebrated for its character, its enduring connection to the Earp family and Boscobel Farm, and the extraordinary continuity of care that has maintained its iconic form for well over a century.

Part tree, part living sculpture, the Bucket Tree is a reminder that heritage can be found not only in the past, but also in the traditions that communities choose to carry forward.

Does the Bucket Tree get your vote?