City to get a touch of South Pacific

Auckland's mayor is defending a decision to chop down 20 non-native trees in Queen St, saying the city should be a slice of the South Pacific and not an imitation of Europe.

Dick Hubbard said the public response to news the exotic trees would be removed and replaced by native cabbage, southern rata and nikau palm trees was a kneejerk reaction by people who didn't fully understand the situation.

"The trees that are coming out, most of them are not thriving, the vast majority of them are not good specimens," Mr Hubbard said.

Auckland City Council has tagged 20 between Wellesley St and Mayoral Drive for the chop - nine London plane trees, six tooth daisy bushes, two yellow poplars, one liquidambar, one claret ash and one oriental plane.

Nikau palms, southern rata and cabbage trees will replace them.

The Herald has received more than 180 emails and faxes condemning the removal of the trees.

Mr Hubbard said the council had yet to get resource consent but a decision was expected in the New Year. That process did not involve public comment.

He "absolutely and categorically" rejected the suggestion the council had lodged an application while people were preparing for Christmas. "We've been talking trees for about six or nine months. It's been part of the consultation plan."

Mr Hubbard believed media reports had misled people.