Tree kept safe for viewing

One of the giants of the forest has been given special protection in a North Shore City reserve in Torbay.

North Shore City Council has built a viewing platform close to a large Kahikatea tree in Awaruku Reserve to protect the tree's buttress roots. The native tree - a fine specimen - is over 50m tall and hundreds of years old - and has a commanding position near one of the reserve's many walking tracks.

The council's community services and parks committee chairperson, Margaret Miles, says the platform allows visitors to view the tree without walking on its base and damaging its roots.

Councillor Miles says the 3.5 by 2 metre platform includes a section of boardwalk. "We envisage that by extending the boardwalk further, it may be possible to provide wheelchair access in the longer term.

"Local resident and volunteer Hugh Willis will continue his labour of love to make wheelchair access up the path as easy as possible," she says.