Charlotte Olivia Olver

In Parnell Rose Gardens (officially called Dove‑Myer Robinson Park) in Auckland, the city feels a little farther away. The air is thick with fragrance, petals spill over the edges of winding paths, and time seems to slow. Here, among the roses, reflection comes naturally, especially as Remembrance Day approaches.

The heart of the hill

The land beneath the roses carries a story older than the blooms. Long ago, this place was called Taurarua, a headland where Māori families built a village and fort. Later, it was gifted by Ngāti Whātua, the local Māori tribe, when Auckland was founded in 1840. In 1914, part of the Gillies family estate became a public park, by the 1930s, formal rose beds were flourishing. Today, the gardens are a quiet sanctuary: a place to pause, wander, photograph, picnic, or simply breathe.

Quiet corners of remembrance

Amid the blooms, two memorials tell stories of courage and sacrifice. The Korean War Memorial, opened in 1992, honours New Zealanders who served in Korea between 1950 and 1953, defending the principles of the United Nations. Nearby, the Dutch War Memorial, unveiled in 1963, remembers around 38,000 Dutch servicemen and resistance fighters who lost their lives in World War II, the Indonesian independence conflict, and the Korean War.

The memorials are simple stone structures, framed by roses, yet they quietly draw attention. Set within the gardens’ peaceful paths, they invite reflection and provide a calm space for remembrance.

Where time slows

The gardens have a way of softening time. Sunlight filters through the leaves, footsteps echo along winding paths, and the colours and scents of the roses awaken the senses. It is a quiet reminder that nature restores, and that slowing down allows us to see, feel, and truly be present.

Each November, the Parnell Festival of Roses brings a livelier rhythm. Music drifts through the trees, children explore the paths with wide-eyed curiosity, and families linger among the flowerbeds. Laughter and reflection coexist effortlessly, as the gardens offer both community and solitude.

Quiet reflections

As Remembrance Day draws near, the gardens seem to lean closer, offering a softer quiet between blooms. Visitors pause at the memorials, trace letters on plaques with their eyes, inhale the scent of roses, and allow themselves a moment of thought. Remembrance is not just looking back – it is noticing the present, feeling the pulse of life, the continuity of seasons, and the small miracles of growth.

Where memory blooms

Parnell Rose Gardens are more than roses on a hill above Auckland. They are a living memory, a place where beauty and history entwine. Among the petals, remembrance is not measured in silence alone. It is found in colour and fragrance, the gentle sway of blooms, and the quiet sense of belonging that a garden can offer.

For more information about visiting, see the Parnell Rose Gardens website, and for details on the annual festival, visit the Parnell Festival of Roses.