KEY POINTS:
Two men are being sought for a chainsaw attack on a 100-year-old Norfolk pine at a clifftop property in Auckland's Herne Bay.
On the evening of February 2, the men allegedly used a chainsaw to cut a wedge into the base of the 30m protected tree, which could have gone crashing over the cliff and taken one or more large pohutukawa trees with it.
Neighbours confronted the men, who were wearing high-visibility vests, and the pair took off in a grey 4WD with a deregistered number plate and chrome bull bars on the front.
Last night council chief executive David Rankin released photographs the council obtained of the men, saying the council would like to talk to them to help with its inquiries into the matter.
The council officer in charge of the inquiry, Jackie Wilkinson, said arborists had taken immediate action to save the tree but it was too soon to know if it would survive.
The tree had suffered two deep cuts forming a wedge at the base, which had a girth of 3m.
"It's got shades of One Tree Hill," Ms Wilkinson said, referring to the attack on the city's landmark tree. "It's quite a spectacular old tree that's been part of the neighbourhood for many years."
One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said the tree was a local icon and a reference point from the beach.
The site, at 29 Marine Parade, was the subject of controversy in March last year when the council gave the go-ahead to demolish a 100-year-old house there, after it took the word of house wrecker Alex Burrell that it was built after 1950.
Ms Wilkinson said she had spoken with the owner of the property, developer Chris Cook, who has started building two houses on the $5 million waterfront site. He had denied any knowledge of the chainsaw attack, she said.
Mr Cook's plans for the site include keeping the tree, which is generally protected as well as being protected under a coastal management plan for Herne Bay.
Plans show the tree close to a swimming pool on the sloping site.
The council is urging the public to come forward with any information about the chainsaw attack, which happened about 5pm. The number to call is (09) 379-2020.
