Resident Battles Auckland Council’s ‘Ridiculous’ Choice Of Berm Tree Criticised

Wednesday, 11 June 2025, 5:25 pm
Article: Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter

An Auckland resident says authorities need to carefully consider the trees they plant on berms after her complaints of a leafy liquidamber planted outside her home fell on deaf ears.

Papakura resident Sarah Thompson said she was surprised when she found that Auckland Council had planted a dwarf version of a liquidamber on her berm last month.

A berm is the grassed area that sits between the road and either the footpath or the property boundary.

Thompson was concerned about how big tree would grow.

"You could hardly pick a more ridiculous tree to plant on a berm," Thompson said.

"They've planted them on alternate berms all down the street, and they said they want more shade and I take their point on that.

"But, they've managed to plant one on an incredibly shady berm, it's already got massive trees on there ... they haven't thought this through at all."

Liquidambar styraciflua, commonly known as sweetgum, is a tall, fast-growing tree known for its distinctive star-shaped leaves, which change colours in the autumn.

When matured, they can reach a height of around 20 metres, with an extensive root system. A dwarf version grows as tall as 3m.

Auckland Council says the tree is known for its strong form, vivid autumn colour, and resilience in urban environments.

However, Thompson said the trees grow to be huge.

"And it is deciduous with massive leaf fall that will clog the drains."

Thompson and a few of her neighbours wondered why another tree wasn't considered.

"A fruit tree would be nice and provide food for the local community, or a native."

She raised her concerns with council, about the lack of consultation with residents.

"We got a leaflet in our mailbox, on the same day of the planting, and the email address provided didn't work."

Several factors considered

Council's Urban Forest, Arboriculture and Ecology manager David Stejskal said tree species for street planting were selected carefully by council urban foresters.

Guided by the Auckland Urban Ngahere Strategy and informed by a regional tree palette tailored to local conditions, they considered a range of factors, including space constraints, and the expected long-term performance of the tree, he said.

"While Liquidambar can grow to be a large tree over time, it is valued for its strong form, vivid autumn colour, and resilience in urban environments.

"Where appropriate, council uses smaller cultivars and applies root management techniques such as root barriers to reduce the risk of damage to nearby footpaths and underground infrastructure."

He said the Papakura Local Board, in its Local Board Plan 2023, held concerns that Papakura had low tree canopy cover of only 14 percent.

"Consequently, the Local Board is supporting an increase in the tree canopy through tree planting, especially in streets and parks," he said.

Stejskal said council welcomed community feedback on planting choices, and was happy to assess individual sites where there were specific concerns.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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