Contractors removed two huge old pine trees from Queen's Park on Tuesday.
Two men working from a platform dangled aloft by a crane were cutting sections from the tree. Each section of trunk was attached to another line held aloft by the crane.
Five others from the contracting company were on the ground watching.
Cutting was done slowly and carefully, to avoid the cut pieces swinging into the platform and hitting it.
The trees are being removed because they are in poor condition and may be dangerous, Whanganui District Council arboriculture parks manager Claire Lilley said.