Pohutukawa recovers after being ‘poisoned’
A mature pohutukawa tree on a New Plymouth beachside public reserve is showing signs of new growth a year after a suspected poisoning.
The 5-metre tall tree, one of three planted on East End Reserve, had been in decline, with almost half the foliage dying off. Its health worsened soon after a hole was discovered to have been drilled into the trunk.
Residents believe a commonly used herbicide, possibly Tordon, was poured into the hole to poison the tree.
A nearby resident said he had noticed branches slowly dying off on one side. The resident, who did want to be named, said he was shocked and could not understand why anyone would want to have the tree removed.
‘‘It’s not as if it is blocking anyone’s view as we can all see the sea from most homes in the area,’’ he said. ‘‘It provides good shading for people who come to the reserve during summer to relax.’’
Whatever the motive of the person who attempted to kill the tree, it appeared to have backfired with new growth now showing on the uppermost branches, he said.
New Plymouth District Council staff were aware of the tree’s decline and had been monitoring it since the alleged became noticeable.
Staff were not sure what the cause of the tree’s decline was but were keeping a close watch, NPDC external relations manager Jacqueline Baker replied in a written statement.
Baker said it was an offence to prune or alter trees planted on public reserves.
Council staff look after around 1600ha of parks and reserves in the district, containing more than poisoning 3000 trees, she said. ‘‘While we don’t inspect them all annually, we are constantly monitoring them as a team of gardeners are frequently on the ground looking after them.’’
Baker said residents should contact staff if trees were obstructing views, or causing damage.
Blatant poisoning of native trees on public reserves is not uncommon in New Plymouth, and trees planted on reserve land between East End and Fitzroy beaches are often vandalised.
In 2017 several large pohutukawa, up to 7.5m high, alongside the coastal walkway were chopped down, or poisoned after holes were drilled into the trunks.
In another example, council staff found a handsaw had been used to cut ‘‘several metres’’ of branches from a pohutukawa which may have been obstructing a resident’s view.