Safety first as axe falls on 90-year-old tree at Gisborne Botanical Gardens

This magnolia tree at the Gisborne Botanical Gardens fell victim to the bad weather over the Christmas-New Year period. It is to be removed due to safety concerns.

A 90-year-old magnolia tree at the Gisborne Botanical Gardens is to get the chop after it was severely damaged during weather events over the New Year holiday break.

On January 1 around midday, the tree split nearly in half while the park was busy with visitors, Gisborne District Council said in a statement.

No one was hurt, but the “hugely disappointing” decision to remove the tree to ensure public safety was made.

“The loss of the magnolia is a real blow for our gardens team and the community,” said council acting director for liveable communities Kerry Hudson.

“Assessments by several tree experts confirmed the damage posed a serious safety risk ... the risk of large branches falling in a high-traffic area could lead to serious harm.”

The 90-year-old tree split nearly in half on New Year's Day, and Gisborne District Council has made what it described as a "hugely disappointing" decision to remove it.

Hudson emphasised the council’s commitment to the preservation and enhancement of the botanical gardens.

“Succession planting is a key priority for us. We aim to foster a diverse and healthy collection of trees. We understand how important it is to preserve our trees as they contribute to conservation, education and the enjoyment of visitors.

“We also plan to plant younger trees to replace the ones we’ve lost.”

Careful management and planning were essential to ensuring the gardens' long-term legacy, he said.

“We want to ensure these trees remain for future generations to enjoy. These trees in our gardens are more than just beautiful landmarks.

“They play a vital role to our mission of environmental stewardship and education.”