Huatoki Walkway Trees to be Cut Back

A stand of trees will be cut down on Huatoki Walkway next week, to reduce the chance of a bank collapsing onto the path.

The pohutukawa and Elaegnus trees are on top of the quarry bank, adjacent to New Plymouth Prison, and will be removed next Tuesday (25 October).

“We’ll leave the stumps in the ground so they can resprout, making it possible for the root systems to help keep the bank together but without the weight of the trees putting pressure on the soil,” says District Arborist Conrad Pattison.

“The resprouting will also help screen the prison from the walkway again.”

One of the trees on the bank recently fell, bringing soil down with it.

“We want to prevent the entire bank collapsing and removing the trees’ weight will help,” he says.

Huatoki Walkway will remain open to the public during the tree removal.
 

• Flax, agapanthus and other plants are being removed from the Oakura Coastal Walkway this week due to erosion. The area will be replanted with pingao plants next autumn.