A Tauranga tree being covered with 600 red poppies today will become a poignant reminder to passers-by of Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Age Concern Tauranga volunteer Nola Ott had the idea in 2022, while visiting an older woman in her home.

'We go and visit people who may be lonely or isolated in the community,” says Nola.

'I showed one of the ladies a display I'd made while knitting at her house. My coordinator thought they were lovely, and that we could put them on the tree outside Age Concern Tauranga office in Fraser Street.

'But it was only three weeks before Anzac Day last year, so during the year when we've had time we've made poppies.”

Ninja Knit volunteers stitching the poppies onto mesh to hang on the tree on Fraser Street on Thursday. Photo: Wendy Pedersen.

The Tauranga Ninja Knits, a group of about 10 yarn artists which meets monthly, dived into helping make the poppies.

'One lady has crocheted 315 poppies,” says Nola.

'Some have done 10 to 12 and some have done 100. They are all different styles of poppies, but that represents all the different men involved in the wars.”

The Ninja Knits meet at 9.30am on the first Sunday of each month at The Incubator in 17th Ave.

Previous group projects have included yarnbombing three trees in Greerton Village, yarnbombing at Memorial Park, displays at the Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival's Bloom in the Bay festival hub and knitting a huge yellow cake for a Tauranga Art Festival birthday celebration.

'We also do other things as well; some of us are doing squares for the Greerton yarn bombing this year,” says Nola.

'We did a call out to the community and people have been dropping off red poppies to Nola,” says Ninja Knits member Wendy Pedersen.

There is a variety of different styles of poppies. Photo: Wendy Pedersen.

Age Concern Tauranga general manager Tanya Smith is looking forward to seeing the tree decorated outside of their office at 177A Fraser Street.

'We support people aged 65 plus, and their carers and families out in the community,” says Tanya.

'We respond to some queries through the office, and help refer people to agencies, as well as offer programmes such as the visiting service which Nola does.”

Age Concern Tauranga also offers staying safe driver refresher workshops.

'It's a theory based workshop going over the new driving with road code. There are no tests just going over the rules. We change as we age. Rural driving, night driving and what life is like when you are no longer driving are covered.”

The organisation also provides assessments for the total mobility taxi scheme, and has volunteer opportunities for people wanting to assist older people.

This year, drivers passing by the Fraser Street office between 17th and 18th Avenues will be reminded of other Kiwis who served their fellow country.

'We're hoping to put up the 600 poppies on the tree outside Age Concern Tauranga on Thursday,” says Wendy.

The poppies will remain in place until Anzac Day on April 25.

Anyone interested in volunteer opportunities with Age Concern Tauranga, 177A Fraser Street, phone (07) 578 2631 or go to https://ageconcerntauranga.org.nz

Ninja Knit volunteers stitching the poppies onto mesh to hang on the tree on Fraser Street on Thursday. Photo: Wendy Pedersen.