Sir Edmund's big trees fail the cost test

By BERNARD ORSMAN

The guest of honour at tomorrow's official Britomart opening, Sir Edmund Hillary, is caught up in a battle over whether big or small nikau palms should grace the transport centre.

Sir Edmund supported a late bid to put four large nikau inside the glasshouse at the $211 million Britomart transport centre.

But the contractors, architects and council officials rejected the trees as too expensive, and planted four small palms that do not meet the specifications in the contract.

Oceanic Palms was asked about three months ago by a subcontractor to supply large nikau palms, and offered to raise private financing when the price was too high.

It is understood it wanted $40,000 for the four palms. It is not known how much the smaller trees cost.

The architects, Mario Madayag and Jasmax, provided a letter of support backing the big trees, as did Sir Edmund.



"Considering that this is one of the largest projects in Auckland's history, I believe it deserves the sizeable specimens of New Zealand nikaus that the architects intended," Sir Edmund wrote.

"To use smaller palms, which would take years to achieve an impressive height, would be most unfortunate."

The Britomart contract specified the nikaus be at least 3.5m high. The docket for the nikaus supplied to Britomart by Mace Contractors said the trees were 3.5m high including the bag.

Tree suppliers say the height of a tree should be measured from the top of the bag.

The senior project manager for Downer Construction, Dale Burtenshaw, said the large nikau were excessively over the budget.

Specifications for the trees were a matter for Jasmax, which selected the palms within the budget, and they were approved by the Auckland City Council.

Mr Madayag said he was told Britomart had got the trees as specified, but he was unhappy with them.

The civic opening

Sir Edmund and Lady Hillary, in a horse-drawn carriage, will lead the procession down Queen St at 1.40pm from the town hall to the civic opening of Britomart.

The procession will also include pipers and a drummer, and seven of Auckland's earliest cars, from 1907-12.

The civic ceremony at 2pm will include the unveiling of three plaques, speeches and the cutting of a cake.

Saturday's open day at Britomart starts at 11am and features street performers, musicians, Thomas the Tank Engine and vintage vehicles, and ends with a laser show in front of the old Chief Post Office at 5pm.