People power stops tree felling

Craig Jones of Brookfield used his car to stop two trees on neighbouring Housing NZ properties being felled. Photo / John Borren

A Brookfield man who used his car to halt the felling of two trees yesterday says his protest was a victory for "people power".

Craig Jones, 54, of Sutherland Rd, parked his car underneath the branches of the trees, which hung over his driveway, preventing an aborist from cutting them down.

The arborist arrived to cut down the trees, which were located on a neighbouring Housing New Zealand property, at 7.40am and left about 20 minutes later.

"I'm feeling really good, it shows people power still works in this country," Mr Jones said.

"My wife calls me a tree hugger. I just think when you start chopping things like that down now, when my granddaughter is my age there isn't going to be many trees around."

Mr Jones' property had been in his family since 1969 and the trees had always been there.

"They hang over my driveway and they are like an entrance way," Mr Jones said.

"They are absolutely beautiful.

"They provide shade in the summer, just the way they look as you drive into the driveway, like a big canopy over everything."

In response to Bay of Plenty Times questions about whether they would go ahead with the felling at a later date, Housing New Zealand area manager Teresa Pou said advice given by their contractors was that removing the trees was the safest option.

My wife calls me a tree hugger. I just think when you start chopping things like that down now, when my granddaughter is my age there isn't going to be many trees around.

Craig Jones

"Our preference would have been not to remove the tree, but under the circumstances it is the safest approach and the best option for ensuring the safety of our tenant, the neighbours and ensuring the property is not damaged. The tree is blocking a lot of light, is very close to power lines and the leaves dropping from it are causing blockages in the property's guttering.

"Just trimming it isn't feasible, as its size means that trimming it would cause it to become lopsided and be at risk of falling over."

Ms Pou said they discussed the tree felling with tenants.

New Zealand's largest:

* The largest tree in New Zealand lives in the Waipoua Forest, north of Dargaville. Tane Mahuta is New Zealand's largest kauri tree. It is about 2000 years old and is 4.4m in diameter.