Two signature native trees are to be planted at three sites around the Coromandel as part of Anzac Day commemorations on April 25.

The three sites where planting will take place on Anzac Day are: the new cemetery at Mercury Bay, Tairua's RSA cemetery, and the Council reserve near Durrant Dr in Whangamata.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, when New Zealand troops fought their first major campaign of World War One. In all, 18,166 New Zealanders died in the war.

By the 100th anniversary of the war's end in 2018, the Thames-Coromandel District Council will have planted that number of trees at 10 sites across the Coromandel.

The trees will be planted in forests that represent major battles and campaigns that New Zealand forces took part in.

This complex project is being overseen by Economic Development Programme manager Ben Dunbar-Smith, with significant help from RSAs, community groups, schools, Waikato Regional Council and the Department of Conservation.

'The New Zealand World War I Memorial Forest,” says Ben, 'is a fitting and long-lasting tribute to the New Zealand men and women who fought and died in the service of their country a century ago.”

The 10 forest sites will also form a growing tourism attraction, with trees available for purchase and each tree GPS-located.

'The tourism benefits of the Forest are considerable and in the early stages of planting there will be spin-off effects from the local goods and services related to the project.”

After discussions with RSAs and local communities, it was decided to keep the plantings on Anzac Day low key so as not to detract from the day's traditional remembrance ceremonies.

At the new Mercury Bay cemetery 35 trees will be blessed on Anzac Day; two will be planted and the others taken away to be planted after June 5 when the weather conditions for planting are better.

After the trees are blessed and planted, a New Zealand WWI Memorial Forest sign will be unveiled that honours those from Mercury Bay who gave their lives in the war.

The cemetery forest site also remembers the Battle of Passchendaele, where eventually more than 2,000 trees will be planted.

At Tairua's RSA cemetery two signature trees are to be planted on ANZAC Day after the dawn service. A sign honouring those soldiers from Tairua-Hikuai will be unveiled at the same time.

A further 46 trees will be planted over the winter months, when conditions are best for tree planting.

Also on Anzac Day, two signature trees are due to be planted at a council reserve at the northern entrance to Whangamata near Durrant Dr.

This forest will represent the Battle of Le Quesnoy, where 122 Kiwi troops died and a further 120 trees will be planted here this winter.

While the final two signature trees will be planted in a special ceremony on November 4, the anniversary of the battle, which was fought in 1918.

For more information on the WWI Memorial Forest project and the plantings around the Coromandel visit: www.tcdc.govt.nz/ww1memorialforest