Swingball game removed from One Tree Hill

UPDATE - A swingball set in concrete on Auckland's One Tree Hill is believed to have been removed by Auckland City Council. 

A council official snapped off the swing's metal pole at its base, Newstalk ZB reported. It was set in 90kg of concrete.

A spokesman earlier said the all items put at the site without resource consent would be removed.

She had said council officers were due to visit the site today and would bring down the set if it was still there.

The hill has been without a tree since its iconic lone pine was removed in October 2000. The tree had become unstable from two chainsaw attacks over the previous six years.

The issue of a replacement has flared again over the past week with two pohutukawa being planted on the summit -- the first by a mystery person or group, the second by broadcaster Paul Holmes.

Both were removed.

The council has said it has nine trees to plant and had a valid resource consent, but it needed Ngati Whatua approval.

However, Ngati Whatua did not want a tree planted there until it had settled its treaty claims.

- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB