Editorial: Axeman, spare those trees

It's hard to be a tree in Tauranga. You are either loved and sought after, or the source of neighbourly disputes that rival the movie scene in Lakeview Terrace when Samuel L Jackson hacked his neighbours' trees and, when they protested, turned the chainsaw on them.

In green New Zealand it surprises me that trees are not desired by all. For tree lovers, trees provide a park-like romance, a guardian of the seasons, and a haven for birdlife. But some city dwellers consider trees a nuisance. For them trees hide views, block the sun, and cast long shadows. They don't hear the birdsong, only the sound of poop dropping on their cars. They whine about roots and leaves blocking drains.

Me, I love to wake to the sound of birds, branches outside the window, and the smell of pine. We chose our house for the trees that surround it. We were surprised at the reaction of some who asked if we were going to cut them down.

The trees were here before us. We should build our city around them rather than felling anything that gets in our way.

Tauranga City Council hasn't planned its city design well. Carparks and highways enjoy waterside spots, traffic lights and roundabouts are moved like merry-go-rounds, and the toll roads are so empty they rival our runway. Now the lack of attention to maintaining trees puts the future ambience and environment of the city at risk. This week, John Cousins reported on the Maungatapu neighbourhood divided over the fate of a protected landscape tree facing destruction because a house was allowed to be built too close to it.

The Norfolk pine was already well established when Daniel and Glenda Lever decided to build their home. They even chose a colour scheme to blend in with the tree. Now they want to remove it, claiming it is damaging the house.

The neighbours quite rightly point out that the property owners chose to build so close to a protected tree, knowing root growth was inevitable.

In May, the council overruled the city arborist's recommendation to save another Norfolk pine in 22nd Ave. Whereas the arborist said the issues around the tree could be managed, the council went against him in favour of a request by a resident of the street, whose complaints included "litter and shading".

Leaves can be solved by a broom or a blower. Shading is what trees are there for. In a country with one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world, we should be grateful for the trees. They are getting so scarce in this city that earlier this year local dermatologist Dr Paul Salmon donated 90 pohutakawa to a Mount neighbourhood as part of Project Umbrella. You would think that residents would be overjoyed at their streets being beautified by our national icon but the gesture was opposed by some residents. Their complaint? The trees might affect their parking.

If we carry on our city's disregard for trees we will soon find ourselves in a barren town. The council should strive to preserve trees, instead of taking the easy option of the chainsaw.