A survey of the One Tree Hill pine tree has found evidence of further deterioration.

The tree has moved significantly in the past month as a result of the recent high winds.

An Auckland City aborist says 16 per cent of the tree’s total movement since the surveys began in June 1998 has been in the past month.

It had been thought that the tree could live up to another two years. The trunk is so badly damaged that only 50 percent of the cross-section and 10 percent of its circumference remain intact.

The council is now working through the process of deciding what action to take to ensure the continued safety of visitors to the summit and to protect the archeologically valuable site.

The pine has been in decline for some time following two attacks on it in the last decade and plans are already well advanced to replace it.

Resource consent for the replacement of the tree is being prepared and consultation is underway with the many parties which have an interest in the tree and site, including heritage groups and regional iwi.

The tree was believed to be originally part of a group of pines planted by Sir John Logan Campbell in 1874 as a shelter-belt for a puriri which ultimately failed to survive. A young totara was planted in 1949 because it was thought that the pines were nearing the end of their lifespan. However, the pines survived, while the totara did not.

In 1962, vandals attacked one of the two remaining pines with axes, forcing the authorities to finish the job and remove the tree. Since then the current pine has been alone on One Tree Hill.

Since late 1999, Auckland City has been making plans to replace the tree, working with internal departments and external agencies to ensure that any replacement would be suitable to all parties.

ENDS

For further information contact:
Auckland City Marketing: Tel 379 2020

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