Maori asked to stump up cost of tree

By BERNARD ORSMAN

Local Maori are being asked to make a gold coin donation to pay for a replacement tree on One Tree Hill after Auckland Mayor John Banks said ratepayers should not spend any more money on the icon.

Mr Banks yesterday produced figures showing that ratepayers had "squandered" $557,000 over the past five years on the lone pine, including $63,000 to remove it from the Auckland skyline a year ago.

The council has budgeted $40,000 over each of the next three years to plant and manage a grove of pohutukawa and totara replacement trees, surrounded by shelter shrubs, a fence and iron railings.

Mr Banks' latest brainstorm for trimming council costs will need the backing of a majority of councillors if he is to overturn a previous council decision to replant the Monterey pine - scheduled for next autumn.

Several Auckland MPs said they wanted to see the pine tree replaced, including Conservation Minister Sandra Lee, Auckland Issues Minister Judith Tizard, Maungakiekie MP Mark Gosche and the Labour list MP and Ngati Whatua kaumatua, Joe Hawke.

Mr Hawke said if Mr Banks could not raise the funds to reinstate the icon he would approach all members of Ngati Whatua to seek a gold coin donation of $1 or $2 from each family.

Mr Gosche has offered $100.

With the money, Mr Hawke said, Ngati Whatua would plant three totara, three kauri and three pohutukawa trees at a dawn ceremony, with invitations going to Prime Minister Helen Clark and other dignitaries, but not Mr Banks.

Ms Lee said she could not think of a better symbol for Auckland than to replace the pine on One Tree Hill.

"A tree on One Tree Hill is an investment in Auckland's identity, an expression of pride in our city, and a reminder that in a densely developed large city, nature is still important," she said.

Mr Banks said he respected the wishes of Ngati Whatua to plant the native trees, look after them and pick up the costs. Replanting One Tree Hill was simply not one of his priorities.

"Enough money has been spent on the tree on top of One Tree Hill at this stage," he said.

"I have got $600 million worth of motorway works to be completed.

"I want to build a conference centre adjacent to the Aotea Centre at a cost of $100 million.

"And there are folk who want to finish off the arena proposal at a cost of $120 million. We simply don't have enough money to do what we want to do."

Mr Banks said he could live with planting the native trees at a dawn ceremony "but how long will they last, who is going to look after them and how much is it going to cost?"

He would accept the majority decision of the council on the future of the tree.

Councillor Bill Christian, the former parks committee chairman who has overseen the replanting, said he supported Mr Banks' fiscal drive but he did not think the new mayor was in touch with the emotion and sentiment unleashed when the pine was felled last year.

Deputy Mayor David Hay, whose Auckland Citizens & Ratepayers Now ticket has the numbers to decide whether the replanting goes ahead, said the issue had not been discussed.

Feature: Tree on the Hill