Jacinda Ardern Instagram – This weekend marks the celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, a milestone we’re acknowledging here in New Zealand too. Since her coronation at just 25 years of age, the Queen has dedicated her life to public service, including to us here in Aotearoa. In fact she has visited New Zealand many times beginning in 1953 with her last visit in 2002. In my time in this role I’ve had the privilege to speak with Her Majesty several times, and on every occasion I’ve been struck by her intimate knowledge of our home, and her affection for it. In different parts of the world, people are marking the Queen’s Jubilee year in different ways. We held a service in Wellington yesterday but we also have two projects that will mark this historic occasion. The track to Observation Rock from the settlement of Oban on Stewart Island/Rakiura, will be formally renamed the ‘Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Path’ or the ‘Platinum Path’ for short! The Queen has also encouraged anyone who wants to mark the Jubilee to do so by planting trees, so to honour this, we are also embarking on a national tree planting project for 100,000 native trees across 14 native restoration projects around New Zealand. Two ways that we can say thank you for a remarkable 70 years of service. Photo credits: Gabrielle Dean – Queen Elizabeth II meeting the Stratford stationmaster, Jack Scott, on 8 January 1954. Dominion Post – The Queen in the Debating Chamber during her 1995 visit. 
Parliamentary Collection, Morris Hill photograph – Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II opening a session of the New Zealand Parliament on 12 January 1954.