26 October 2000

Auckland City arborists have today successfully felled the terminally-ill One Tree Hill monterey pine.

The reason for the urgent need to remove the tree was due to three independent reports indicating the pine was unstable.

It was removed successfully and safely with no damage to the site.

The felling began early this morning following a blessing ceremony by Iwi and residents.

Most of the work was completed by 4 pm today.

The first task was to take down the protective cage, allowing arborists to carefully remove several tiny pohutukawa seedlings growing in cracks at the base.

A helicopter was used to ferry pieces of the canopy to the bottom of the hill as they were cut away from the trunk.

A crane then lifted sections of the trunk onto a waiting truck for removal to a safe storage area.

Numerous requests have been received for larger pieces of the tree, however no decision has yet to be made for their dispersal.

Due to demands for pieces of the tree from the many hundreds of onlookers who turned out to watch its removal today, many were able to take away small pieces as souvenirs.

During the day visitor numbers to Cornwall Park have been much higher than usual, with Auckland City ambassadors busy directing people to safe areas to view the removal.

Auckland City manager in charge of the operation, Cameron Parr, says: “This was an incredibly difficult operation which required some very careful planning.”

“It has however gone without a hitch and with no damage to the historic site, as the result of an all round team effort.”

“It is sadly the end of an era but we can now concentrate on the process of deciding what will replace the pine. That decision is some way off and requires a good deal of thorough consultation with the many interested parties”.

ENDS

For further information, contact Cameron Parr (09) 379 2020.

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