The Thames-Coromandel District Council has officially endorsed the New Zealand World War One Memorial Forests project this week.

The project will see 18,166 trees planted at various scenic sites around the Coromandel to honour all NZ soldiers who died in the war.

The Thames-Coromandel District Council has officially endorsed the planned New Zealand World War One Memorial Forests Project this week. Photo: File

Council will now act as underwriter for the estimated $452,000 cost of the forest project over the next 10 years.

The costs will be recouped from grants from external agencies and from the sale of the trees to the public.

The project, which is also known as 'Te Wao Whakamaumaharatanga” – the Forest of Memories, will commence with initial planting on Anzac Day this year.

A push for more intensive planting with schools and volunteers groups will then take place in the autumn months.

Mayor Glenn Leach says council has had fantastic feedback from all the organisations it has have met with to discuss the project.

'[Council is] working with a variety of agencies including the Department of Conservation, Waikato Regional Council, Forest and Bird, Kauri 2000 and local Returned Services Associations.

'We are also starting to make contact with schools around the district so students can be involved from possibly growing the trees in nurseries, to on-going, long-term maintenance.

Glenn adds: 'The meetings we've had so far from the schools we have approached has been extremely positive.”

On average 6,000 trees will need to be planted each year, with the forests completed by Armistice Day 2018.

As each tree will be numbered and plotted on GPS, members of the public will be able to purchase a tree to honour a fallen soldier for $100.

TCDC will be looking for at least 3,000 people to purchase a tree in order to meet funding targets, but will welcome as many purchasers as are willing to come forward.

Contractors will undertake initial site preparation, such as digging the holes and staking, numbering and plotting GPS for each site, with volunteers involved in the initial planting and maintenance.

To ensure long-term care, contractors will be working with volunteer groups to look after each tree in the longer-term.

Final decisions on the sites of each battle are yet to be made, but at this stage it is proposed that Gallipoli (2779 trees) will be honoured on Department of Conservation land above Cathedral Cove.

The Battle of Passchendaele will be remembered at the new Whitianga Cemetery, with the Thames War Memorial honouring the Battle of Messines Ridge (1300 trees).

A separate site on the entrance to Thames to specifically remember the war dead from the town.

Other sites will be the Tangitarori Lane walkway from Pauanui-Hikuai which will honour the Palestine campaign, and the Battle of Le Quesnoy at Whangamata.

Other sites are still under investigation for the remaining battles to be commemorated.

For more information or to register your interest in purchasing a tree visit the TCDC website at: www.tcdc.govt.nz/ww1memorialforest