And although there was no sign of disease or rot in the tree which was outside the high school's music room, Mr Nicholson said another tree of a similar age felled at the school was rotten.
Mr Nicholson said he had suggested to then high school principal Dr Dawid de Villiers, that he trim and top the healthy beech tree, but was told, "No, it's got to go".
Brent Stewart, chairman of the Dannevirke High School Board of Trustees, said the tree was removed because it was a health and safety hazard.
"There's no way I like cutting down trees, but over the years branches have blown down and although this was a beautiful tree and I wish it could have stayed, the buck stops with me," he said. "Being such a high traffic area for students it was a health and safety matter and at anytime branches could have crashed through the roof of the building."
The magnificent beech tree met the chainsaw just a week after the Tararua District Council agreed to ask staff to report back on the costs and the scope of the job, including ongoing maintenance costs, to replace a London plane tree chainsawed down in 2013 in Victoria Ave and King, Edwards and Cole Streets.
London plane trees adjacent to the high school were removed and replaced with angle car-parking in the interests of safety, but no moves have been taken to restore the ambience of the streets.
At the council meeting contractor at the time Ernie Christison, now a district councillor, told fellow councillors people continue to hound him.
"I still cop flak about this, as the person who cut the trees down," he said. "The ongoing cost and maintenance [of new trees] will be reflected in everyone's rates. Before we consider replanting we should consider the infrastructure. With such a huge project and investment we should go out to public consultation."
But councillor Shirley Hull stood up for the residents and urged the council to listen to what they wanted.
"If the community wants trees they should have trees. I think we should honour our obligations and it's time for us to step forward with what we promised people in those streets," she said.
Deputy mayor Allan Benbow said he agreed with Mrs Hull.
Councillor Carole Isaacson carried out a last minute door-to-door survey asking residents whether they wanted trees. Of those surveyed, 28 wanted simple evergreen trees, not too big which were easy care and spaced well apart. Residents at 10 properties didn't want any trees replanted and no-one was home at 17 properties.