7 February 2005

Unauthorised planting removed from One Tree Hill

Auckland City contractors today discovered that the unauthorised Pohutukawa tree planted on the summit of One Tree Hill had already been vandalised.

The two-metre high tree was mysteriously planted over the weekend accompanied by a wooden plaque displaying the words "one NZ". The council contractors found it snapped in half.

Auckland City holds a valid resource consent for planting on the summit and the damaged tree was removed today for breaching the requirements of the district plan.

The summit of the mountain is considered to be an extremely harsh environment – especially in summer – and any tree planted at this time of year would have struggled to survive.

“We are ready to plant a new tree but must wait until the timing is right. Ngati Whatua’s Treaty claim must first be resolved by the Crown. We will then need to consider environmental matters like planting in winter when conditions will contribute to the survival of trees,” says Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard.

ENDS

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