3 February 2005

Attempt to save felled pohutukawa

An Environment Court interim protection order has been issued in an attempt to save the remnant stump of a pohutukawa tree damaged in a hit and run chainsaw attack at 21 Mt Smart Road, Royal Oak, last week.

The interim protection order has been served on the site’s owners, B&C Shaw Limited (first respondent) and George Bernard Shaw, requiring them to take a range of steps to save the tree.

Auckland City is acting on behalf of the owners to protect the tree until the owners comply with the directions of the court. The directions took effect on Tuesday when the owners were served the court order.

“Our arborist has confirmed that with the right care damaged limbs of the tree may survive and re-sprout,” says compliance monitoring team leader Warren Adler.

Protective work includes watering and spreading a layer of well-composed bark mulch around the dripline of the tree, and protecting partly attached limbs by covering the wounds with hessian and sphagnum moss.

“We have also contracted a 24 hour per day security guard to keep watch over the site to counter any further attack on the tree,” says Mr Adler.

Protecting significant native trees is a key role of Auckland City. Scheduling a tree not only protects the trunk and canopy of the tree, but also the root system. Trees are generally protected because of their contribution to the visual amenity of the city. Members of the public have expressed their indignation at the attack on the pohutukawa. A number of comments have been received by email, phone and fax.

“Auckland City is continuing with an investigation into the attack on the tree and following up on the eye witness report on the vehicle registration number,” says Mr Adler. “We ask the public to be vigilant in recording any details that may assist council’s investigators in future incidents of this kind.”

ENDS

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