This group of 19 giant redwoods dominates the small town of Oxford's skyline. They are found in Pearson Park which has sportsgrounds and is also the site for the Oxford War Memorial (the WW1 obelisk was unveiled in 1923). But given the size of the trees it seems likely their planting pre-dates the war memorial, probably being planted when the park was founded in 1891. The park is named in honour of Joseph Pearson and his son William. Joseph was a pioneer runholder in Burnt Hill, northern Waimakariri, and his son predeceased him at the age of 33 [1]. The trees are spread throughout the park (see photos) and while some are healthier than others, generally they are in very good condition. Given their height and central position in the town they are hard to miss (Lloyd, M., 2026).

1. Pearson, Joseph, from An Encylopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A.H. McLintock, originally published in 1966. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand
URL: https://teara.govt.nz/node/24144 (accessed 23 May 2026)