Ask Phoebe: Jewish memorial kauri cut after it died

The tree was chosen and planted in the park on the corner of Karangahape Rd and Symonds St. Photo / Richard Robinson

On Friday November 21, 1986, in the presence of the mayor, Dame Catherine Tizard, and invited guests from the diplomatic, academic, religious and civic sectors in Auckland, a kauri was planted by the Jewish community in memory of Raoul Wallenberg, the heroic Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Hungarian Jews from the Nazi death chambers and then disappeared into the Soviet gulag at the end of the war.

With the help of council staff, the tree was chosen and planted in the park on the corner of Karangahape Rd and Symonds St. The inscription on the bronze plaque read:

Planted in 1986 by the Auckland Jewish community in honour of Raoul Wallenberg on the fortieth anniversary of his disappearance.

"He who saves a life is as if he had saved the universe." (Talmud.)

I was alerted a few months ago that the tree had been chopped down and on investigating (as far as I dared in the very threatening atmosphere of that park) I found only a stump and no sign of the plaque. I contacted the Parks Adviser but have not heard back, despite leaving several messages. The stump has since been removed.

This is a very sad situation, especially in view of the fact that, first, Wallenberg was such an important hero who needs to be remembered and second, the tree was thriving. I wonder whether you can find out anything for us.

Wendy Ross, past president of the Auckland Jewish Council.

In July last year council officers found that the kauri tree had died.

This tree was one of several kauri, and other tree species, to succumb to the effects of drought in the summer of 2009/10.

The dead kauri was removed in December.

When it was taken out, there was no plaque with it - it may have gone missing or may have sunk deep into the ground around the tree, as sometimes happens with large trees.

In recognition of the significance of this site to the Jewish community, the council will arrange for a new plaque to be installed in the area where the kauri once stood.

Is there any plan to improve the parlous state of the uphill lanes on Grafton Rd leading up to Auckland City Hospital?

Whoever "reinstated" these after roadworks needs to take a long look at themselves, particularly since very ill people come up this road all the time in ambulances which turn into the emergency entrance.

The road is completely pitted, patched, uneven and only a step up from loose metal, really.

Bernard Timms, Auckland Central.

Auckland Transport recognises that Grafton Rd requires significant upgrade work to restore the road
surface.

The work was delayed because Metrowater needed to renew a pipeline under the road but this has now been finished.

Because of the possible disruptions to traffic - especially hospital traffic - during the winter months, a decision has been made to make a start on the work in December to ensure minimal turmoil.

Kerb and channel work is expected to be completed by early to mid-December and reconstruction of the road will begin after Christmas and is scheduled to finish in late February.

This is not much consolation for ambulance drivers.

St John spokeswoman Linda Donaldson says the ambulance service has raised the matter with the council out of concern for its patients.

In the meantime, ambulance crews will continue to drive slowly and try to avoid the rough patches on Grafton Rd.