Pohutukawa Festival marred by destruction of coastal trees

Festivities celebrating the flowering of Pohutukawa on the Coromandel coastline have been marred by an alarming number of trees on coastal reserves falling victim to property owners seeking wider views of the sea.

Thames Coromandel District Council’s Operations Manager Greg Hampton said an increasing number of people are prepared to go to incredible law-breaking lengths for what they see as their right to a sea view.

A recent example of a mature coastal reserve tree being poisoned and hacked in Gray’s Beach near Kauotunu on the North East coast of the Peninsula was “blatant” and “unbelievable”. The council has written to all residents in the vicinity appealing for any information.

Holes reveal previous unsuccessful attempts to poison the tree. Its destruction follows vandalism that killed two Pohutukawa trees in Kenwood Dr Matarangi and a 4m Pohutukawa in Dundas St, Whitianga two months ago along with the chopping of several sapling Pohutukawa along the Paku Bay esplanade in Tairua.

“There are worse examples than this but the tree in Gray’s Beach was just so blatant, it’s unbelievable,” said Mr Hampton. “We are in the midst of the Pohutukawa Festival, while at the same time our community is losing its coastal trees because of the illegal actions of a selfish few.

“We should be seeing trees as part of the view - enhancing the view – and the reserves and trees on them are there for everyone. Just because your property may overlook a reserve, it doesn’t give owners exclusive rights over what happens on the reserve.”

The council views vandalism of trees seriously and charges can be brought by Police for intentional damage, with a maximum prison term of up to seven years. If the council chooses to prosecute under the Bylaws Public Places Part II Act, perpetrators face a maximum fine of $20,000 on conviction. In 2002 a resident of The Drive, Whangamata, was fined approximately $70,000 for the removal of a grove of Rewarewa trees in front of his property.

The council has adopted a District Tree Strategy that allows people to request pruning and other measures to address tree-related issues including views. Council parks staff are available to discuss possible options for pruning. This is by far preferable to people breaking the law by carrying out unapproved pruning and destroying trees, Mr Hampton said. 

Most communities have also adopted a Tree Masterplan and Reserve Management Plans giving residents’ input into the location and type of trees planted in their reserves and on main roads.

Tairua, Pauanui and Whangamata area parks officer Lou Mackwell said many less desirable species had been removed which greatly widened the sea views for residents but replacement native trees such as Pohutukawa were being destroyed before they had a chance to establish.

“I’ve consulted adjacent property owners and suggested trees can be moved around before planting but it still hasn’t worked because they’re vandalised and pulled out. If these young trees aren’t allowed to grow, there will be nothing left.”

A council-led Landscape Assessment Survey and another independent study last year found that people on the Coromandel rated the Pohutukawa-fringed coastline as one of the most important aspects of the land.

“This research told us what our ratepayers and residents valued in the landscape, and Pohutukawa on the coastal margins ranked right up the top,” said council’s Strategic Relationship Manager Peter Wishart. “It’s the natural character that they wanted to see preserved – it’s why they came here – and what they saw as important to them on the Coromandel. We need eyes and ears out there to help us catch the culprits.”

The Pohutukawa Festival runs from 23 November to 9 December with events held around the Peninsula.