Fence Protecting Kaiparas Only Heritage Tree Disappears

The removal of several thousand dollars worth of new fencing around Pahi’s iconic Morton Bay Fig tree has been placed in the hands of police.

The huge impressive fig is the only tree in Kaipara protected by a heritage order and has been fenced for a number of years to prevent vehicles damaging its roots. A new wooden fence was built by Kaipara District Council with help from Otamatea High School at the drip line to accommodate the tree’s constantly expanding canopy.

However the new fence has also attracted some opposition which Council had hoped could be resolved by discussions planned for early in the New Year to develop a longterm management plan for the tree.

However sometime between 9.30pm on Sunday evening (14 December) and 6.30am on Monday the entire structure was demolished and removed.

Kaipara District Council has reported the matter to police and Community Spaces Manager Stephen Soole is appealing for anyone who can provide information about it to contact him at 09 439 7209 or the police.

Local Councillor Graham Taylor is very disappointed, saying that in addition to the theft and destruction of Council property, someone appears to have taken the law into their own hands.

“I realise that the fence has aroused some passions but there was an agreement between the Reserve Society and Council that nothing would happen until there was more formal discussion next year” he says.

“The fact that the fence has been removed will make it difficult to enter into good faith negotiations with the community over this issue.”