125 years of city history felled

By ANNE BESTON and SCOTT McLEOD

The One Tree Hill pine stood on the Auckland skyline for 125 years. It took workmen just five hours yesterday to remove the landmark from the hill's summit.

The Monterey pine came down in a carnival atmosphere mixed with a sense of mourning.

Hundreds gathered to watch the removal of a unique part of Auckland's skyline.

Among the crowd was a woman for whom felling the tree was a special moment.

Maureen Taylor, who lives in Havelock North, scattered the ashes of her husband Graham at the base of the pine 12 years ago after he died of cancer. The family lived opposite the park for 25 years.

"Our children grew up in the park. We loved it and loved the tree," she said.

Mrs Taylor and friend Marion Penniall trekked to the summit at 5.45 am to toast a champagne farewell to the injured pine.

Auckland City Council staff issued the tree's death warrant this week after deciding it was unsafe.

It had been supported by wire cables after chainsaw attacks in 1994 and 1999.

The tree's last day began with a karakia at 5 am led by Ngati Whatua and attended by Auckland Mayor Christine Fletcher.

At one point the Mayor was challenged by North Shore woman Sandy Byrne for not giving Aucklanders enough time to say goodbye to the tree.

Her comments drew applause from people sitting on a nearby bank but Mrs Fletcher said she stood by council officers' decision to fell the tree.

The chainsaws began their work about 10 am with the public kept well away from the summit by security staff policing roadblocks and cordoned-off areas.

A crane kept the tree stable while lighter branches were taken away by helicopter. Pieces of the trunk were then loaded onto trucks and taken to the lower carpark.

At one stage a queue was formed by people wanting souvenirs. Most were given branches and pinecones but one man snatched a large branch and sprinted off with it, to the cheers of onlookers.

He was stopped by a security guard who eventually gave in and let him keep it. Other souvenir hunters said they weren't sure what they would do with the remnants of the pine.

"I don't know why I wanted it really, that's probably what my wife will ask," said airline pilot and jogger Dean Beverley.

"I guess it would have fallen down in another year or so but it's sad. I hope they put up another tree."

The pine's canopy was estimated to weigh 2 tonnes and the entire tree about 15 tonnes. Before yesterday it stood 20m high and measured 4.2m round its girth.

Cameron Parr, the Auckland City Council parks officer overseeing the project, said the work had gone well and the remains of the tree would be taken to a "secure site" while the council decided "where to from here."

Auckland City Council has promised the public will be consulted on a replacement tree but council staff have suggested four alternatives: totara, pohutukawa, pine and puriri.

In the meantime, the council said there was no intention to change the name of One Tree Hill.

Herald Online feature: Tree on the hill

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