Capital Trees: The arboreal legacy of Te Upoko-o-te-Ika the Wellington region
The significance and meaning of trees engagingly explored through the way they have shaped our capital.
By Susette Goldsmith
Publication: October 2025
Pages: 280
Format: Limpbound with jacket
ISBN: 978-1-99107209-2
RRP: $40
From the fossil forest of Tītahi Bay and the ageing oak on Plimmer Steps, to the karaka grove on Wellington’s waterfront and a threatened stand of lowland beech in the Hutt Valley, Capital Trees journeys across the region to trace the living legacies of the city’s rich tree heritage and the many people who have shaped, protected and challenged it.
These legacies include arguments around heritage tree listing, the native versus exotics debate, biodiversity, attitudes towards heritage authenticity, trees as monuments and more, explored through facts, anecdotes and field notes.
Illustrated with contemporary photography and specimen illustrations of the species and individual trees covered, this book is a must for all who live in the Wellington region.
Review highlights
New Zealand Journal of Public History, by Clare Gleeson. “Goldsmith writes engagingly, and the recounting of her personal experiences while researching the book is a delight. [...] Capital Trees would make a welcome addition to the bookshelves of tree lovers or those interested in Wellington or garden history. Slightly smaller than A5, its size makes it perfect to slip in a bag to be used as a guidebook for those wanting to explore Wellington’s significant trees. It is a delight to dip into or to read cover to cover.”
Ōtari-Wilton's Bush Newsletter, by Dr Carol West. “If you are interested in trees and the history of their recognition, especially around Wellington, you’ll want to get a copy of this informative book. The cover alone is worth buying the book for – it is so evocative of Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush!”
Landscape Architecture Aotearoa. “In Capital Trees, [Susette] reveals layers of knowledge that are grounded in the city/region level of Wellington. Whether you're a layperson who has never heard of 'fake native trees' or a landscape architect who might well be in like-minded accord with the notion of trees as placeholders of national memory, it is a diverting, engaging and educative pleasure to read.”
Author interviews
RNZ Bookmarks, Susette Goldsmith interviewed by Jesse Mulligan.
NZ Gardener, Susette Goldsmith interviewed by Mei Leng Wong.
About the author
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