KEY POINTS:
The chainsaw used to attack the pine on One Tree Hill was put up for auction..
It was up for sale with a starting point of $5000.
Should this be allowed?
Send us your views
>> Read the story
Here is the latest selection of your views:
ST
It amazes me how ill informed some people are. It is not Mike Smith selling the chainsaw, it is the owner of the chainsaw. The reason why the chainsaw was not destroyed is because it was not Mike Smiths property, he borrowed it off a friend. The money is being raised to go towards a local development project. Basically it is his property and he should be free to do what he wants with it. Instead of getting all worked up and turning into an angry mob you should all take a couple of deep breaths and respect the right of the individual. Its actually none of your business what a man does with his own property.
No reply
Chill everyone, the listing has been removed already by the new SS that is Trade Me management. I suspect tho the people against the sale were probably the same sorts of people that prevented faster cheaper broadband by stopping Telstra from installing overhead cables and/or buy a house next to a stockcar track and complain about the noise or buy a house near to an airforce base and stick a no airport sticker on their car when someone has the excellent idea of putting less load on an airport in the middle of a slum. You guys deserve everything you get.
Ed
It surprise me greatly that this chainsaw was still in existance. I would have thought that this would have been taken by the police and that the judge would have ordered it to be conviscated. Does the general public accept that because this Mike Smith says it is 'the' chainsaw, that it is? I would doubt it. But if it is, it should not be allowed to be profited by auction.
Daniel
That someone probably will pay that much for it. If it was not confiscated at the time of the crime, then obviously its still their property, and they are entitled to sell it any way they choose, thats one of the rights of ownership, isnt it? Though if anyone does pay anything close to US$5,000 for it, they have more money than sense.
P.Dixon
If the chainsaw is sold to the highest bidder would that person (the person selling chainsaw) consider buying and replanting the same kind of tree in place off whats there now? The hill is and all ways will be a significant land mark with a tree and nothing else.If the tree is rotten or breaks for some reason then uproot it and replace with another with the council approval off course. One Tree Hill should always be called by its original name, not concrete hill.I suppose with the times a changing it makes you wonder why they make radical decisions like this. If your toilet seat is old and worn do you go out and buy a whole new toilet? It is so hard to understand the reason why the tree was replaced with concrete. No matter how long it took to grow the tree the name of the hill would always remain the same forever because it grew when New Zealand grew through the years. Did anyone think to ask the people of NZ first? .I hope the next 6 years they think things through first before they make radical decisions.
Lynne
No. No. Vandals should not be rewarded for vandalism. anyway I can not understand anyone wanting the silly thing.
Adaam Taylor
Not my thing at all. A further claim to fame? Wanting some extra cash? Some would even call it clever. I dont agree with it because of what was done with that chainsaw against an Auckland and NZ icon, but who's worse? The person selling the chainsaw, Trade Me, or the people actually placing bids? Either way, I wont lose sleep on it.
Philip Howley
In the namby pamby PC. world of New Zealand, we may as well let the sale go ahead.We slapped Mike Smith's hand with a slightly moist Public transport Verification Of Payment Document, so lets all play ostrich and placate ourselves with his assurance that he personally will not benefit from the sale.Isnt life grand.
John B
The sale should be withdrawn, people should not profit from crime.
Bruce
It is an absolute disgrace that this individual should have the nerve to try and sell the saw that he used to cut down part of Aucklands history and heritage. I sincerely hope that every decent individual in NZ ignores the sale and understands and treats the individual as a criminal not a hero.
Harry
I think Trade Me should allow the auction to continue. Lisa Lewis was able to sell her bikini for a considerable sum.
Lee Challis
I have no problems with the chainsaw being offered for $5000(plus,even)if some mug out there is wanting to pay that much for a secondhand chainsaw of no historical value. I think,however,any proceeds should go to replacing the tree on One Tree Hill.
Richard Wallis
It was only an old pine tree but it had served us well. Trying to cut it down under the cover of darkness was an arrogant and ignorant act. There are thousands of Aucklanders who miss it to this day. The guy should get no more than a rusty old chainsaw is worth and donate that to a good cause.
Nath
I question why all the fuss and bother ? I mean Mike only did a half job, it took another attack 5 years later then a hurricane the following year to finish it properly !!!I guess the irony is a man with a European name, used a modern tool to chop down a historic landmark. If he really wanted to make his point about Maori grievances he would have used a axe, it was good enough for Hone Heke.
Sean
Are the no votes in the chainsaw poll actually voting on the issue raised in the question or voicing discontent at the fact Smith attempted to cut down the One Tree in a political gesture? Surely we should let the market decide (caveat emptor)? Or are the no voters concerned at charities profiting from the proceeds of crime? One might argue that poker-machines are as criminal. And lastly, if we had Hone Heke Pokais axe, wouldn't we put it in a museum? Maybe Smith should donate it to the War Memorial Museum - there arent any exhibits there from the New Zealand Wars (if we discount what some see as the spoils of war on display in the Maori Collection). Hold onto it, Mike: it'll be worth heaps in a few years time when the wars are over!
Terry Hunn
I dont see why a person should be prevented from selling his or her private property even if others think it is wrong. If there are people stupid enough to spend money buying things such as the chain saw in question, then so be it. Think of Tanas handbag as a for instance.
Bomber
Trade Me just dont like Maaaaris do they? Lets see, Ross Meurant gets to sell the Police baton he used to beat anti apartheid protestors with and is allowed to sell it on line for $20 000, but Tame Itis NZ flag he shot in protest of the way the Government handled past treaty claims with his tribe was banned and now Mike Smiths chainsaw he used to cut down the tree on One Tree Hill looks like it will be banned, Isnt it funny how symbols of whiteys domination (Ross Meurant's police baton used to bash people protesting something as obscene as apartheid) is allowed to be sold, but any symbol of Maori resistance is automatically banned, what a tiny minded little nation of bigots we seem to have become! Tumeke ended up doing the auction on behalf of Tame Iti for his flag and we would certainly look to do that for Mike Smith with his chainsaw now. Tim Selwyn (currently in prison for Sedition while protesting the seabed and foreshore theft) wrote an amazing feature at www.tumeke.org/aotearoa.html on the open racism that swirled around the Iti case and gave an insight of the red necked reactionary nature of Parliament in all its full foul glory.. the message is clear. Dont remind the dominant culture about historical injustices perpetrated against the minority culture, because when you do, whitey gets angry at being reminded, the way an abusive husband gets angry when his wife reminds him of the beating he gave her last night.
Silverman
Shocking. Why is the offender in possession of such a piece of evidence? If you rob a bank with a gun and shoot someone, the courts don't return the gun to you.
Trade Me clamps down on so many banal things these days. The site is losing all appeal. Is the site getting lots of hits from the negative advert? Or maybe the new owners of Trade Me don't understand the significance of the saw? Don't care?
Whatever sentence the offender got obviously wasn't enough. He genuinely has no remorse. What a pathetic 15 minutes of fame he grabbed for himself.
Shane
Let him sell the saw but confiscate the proceeds for community good. These dickheads seem to get away with anything these days. I know someone who lost a net for being found with illegally caught fish. Served him right.
The saw should have been taken by the courts. The 'justice'system is part of the problem which isn't really surprising to any normal person is it?
Leah Edwards
The answer? Its just like dealing with a child. If you give them attention, the more they play up. Just ignore it, there's better things to do. Im off to the beach!
KC
Any money raised should be stripped by the courts as it is profit made from crime and use the proceeds to plant and maintain a new tree on One Tree Hill. Would Trade Me allow Mark Burton to sell the shotgun he used to kill the innocent father of two?? or auction the rock that the little scum bag threw off the overbridge on the Southern Motorway?? I think not.
Matt Pollard
This chainsaw was used in an unlawful act on a tree that was regarded as culturally significant to many people in NZ. The tree was damaged and later died, Mike Smith made his point. Why does salt need to be rubbed into the wound? The sale of the saw could have gone ahead without its history been made public. Will this insight other social outcasts to damage icons of Maori culture?
Julia Zorn
Hopefully common sense will prevail and nobody will bid for it.
Helen Guthrie
If anyone is silly enough to pay a large amount
of money for a used chainsaw let them do it. It is
nothing to do with anyone but the purchaser.
John Wagner
The chainsaw is an important part of New Zealand history. It is a symbol which represents the social and political turmoil, which currently exists in NZ and as such, is of some value I believe. However I dont feel its right for people to personally profit from these types of items. I would like to see Mr. Smith, or his friend, donate the chainsaw to Auckland museum where it can be displayed in such a way as to be a reminder to us about the event on One Tree Hill and hopefully inspire future generations to settle the grievances that our and our past generations could not.
Kiwisugar
I think Trade Me should withdraw the item. I hope no one bids. That was our tree, It meant a lot to many people, It was not his to destroy. One persons selfish self absorbed thoughts took away one of our proudest treasures. Dont bid people, dont make him think hes special, Hes just the idiot who thinks one mans gain is worth everyone elses loss.
Amy
No if course not its sick! Since Trade Mes sale, I have noticed the new owners clamping down: increasing winning auction fees, listing fees, restrictions basically in every aspect so I find it rather surprising that they havent made up a rule prohibiting such a sale. The owner of the chainsaw and the person selling it should both be ashamed.
Sarah Simpson
No, this should definitely be stopped. No one should be able to benefit from the proceeds of the sale of the weapon used in a crime. What about the guns used in Aramona will they be next!. I would like to encourage everyone to email Trade Me to get this auction stopped.
Luke Mason
By principle it would be best for Trade Me to ban this kind of selling on their website because it will lead to further occurrences that could be even worse in nature. Im sure Mr Smith is relishing the publicity from this, he has cynically covered his behind by admitting that some people maybe upset by this. However I believe his intentions are more of self-publicity rather than monetary or charity gains. After all, it his Mr Smiths actions of an Auckland icon that was the catalyst for the death of that tree. Something I feel very angry and disgusted about. That was a symbol of my home, and he destroyed it.
Mark Young
I cant believe the chainsaw wasnt confiscated and destroyed at the time and now they are profiteering from it. Outrageous!
Leonie DuVal
"...including the $20,000 sale of former policeman Ross Meurants aluminium baton from the 1981 Springbok tour..." Im more concerned about the above. No, I dont believe the chainsaw should be sold, but it damaged a tree, albeit a landmark. I assume the baton was used against people during acts of violence, and I find that significantly more disturbing that someone should profit from selling police property. Its in the same league as a former LA police officer selling off a gun based on the fact that it was used in the LA riots, for instance.
