Winds uproot huge old trees

A historic macrocarpa tree at Glenfalloch on the Otago Peninsula was among the many tree casualties of the high winds that buffeted Dunedin and Waikouaiti yesterday.

A 1000-year-old matai tree might suffer the same fate.

The 50m-high macrocarpa was one of the first trees planted at Glenfalloch about 120 years ago, and was probably one of the first trees planted on the peninsula, Otago Peninsula Trust administrator Jo Harvey said.

When she and her colleagues saw the tree lying on its side, its enormous root ball exposed, they could not believe it, Ms Harvey said.

"We're all still kind of in shock."

The tree landed beside a neighbouring house, damaging spouting and a window.

The tree, which came down about 10am, had previously been checked by an arborist and there was no indication it was at risk.

The massive clean-up job would probably require a crane, she said.

Glenfalloch head gardner Alan Funnell said the wind had also caused a split in a matai tree, estimated to be up to 1000 years old, to get significantly bigger.

An arborist would check the tree, but it was possible it could be saved.

The wind brought down large trees across Portobello Rd - a large pine over State Highway 88 at Blanket Bay, several old beech trees in Woodhaugh Gardens and mature macrocarpa, pine and eucalyptus trees over State Highway 1, north of Dunedin.

Mature trees in Waikouaiti, Warrington, Blanket Bay, Leith Valley and Tainui blocked roads, many bringing down power lines, while trees and branches came down in streets and at reserves across the city.

Dunedin City Council parks and reserves team leader Martin Thompson said one of the causes of many trees toppling might have been the heavily-saturated soils following last weekend's rain providing less purchase to hold trees stable.

"It's the worst possible time to get strong winds, after heavy rain."

The wind caused widespread property damage.

Many windows were smashed and there was significant damage to plants in the Woodhaugh Gardens. Many panes was smashed in the Dunedin Botanic Garden's propagation house and spare roofing panels stored on the roof of the Tahuna wastewater plant were whipped loose by wind.

The historic Matanaka Farm buildings at Waikouaiti are closed until fallen trees in the car park area and along the track leading to the buildings have been cleared.

Otago University student Tom Brash said his car was written off after a tree fell on it in Forth St while he was at a lecture.

"It was a total shock, I'm just glad no-one was in it."

In the central city, Anderson Lloyd administrator Dianne Smeehuyzen said the wind left some occupants of the Otago House building in Princes St feeling a bit motion-sick.

"The building rocked and rolled. It was like we were in a perpetual earthquake."

While the movement was physically unsettling, staff were not concerned because the building was designed to move in strong winds and earthquakes, Miss Smeehuyzen said.

Several Queen St residents left their homes for a short time when three large trees in the Woodhaugh Gardens fell near their flats about 10.30am.

Honor Anderson (82) said the winds were the strongest she had experienced in her 13 years of living there.