Theft of trees deemed 'selfish, nasty'

Waikouaiti Coast Community Board member Geraldine Tait checks two tree stumps left after old pine trees were illegally chopped down and taken from the Warrington domain. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.

Waikouaiti Coast Community Board member Geraldine Tait said the trees, which were part of the history of the area and gave it character, had gone missing in the past six weeks.

"It is a selfish, nasty thing to do."

The trees had been taken illegally from reserves.

There were signs telling people not to remove trees or other materials, Ms Tait said.

Most of the trees had been taken from Warrington, but a couple had also gone from the Waikouaiti domain.

The trees had a finite life and were slowly falling over, but in the meantime they were "not doing anybody any harm", and were helping to protect the area against soil erosion problems.

"People don't value exotic trees as much these days, but I personally - and I think particularly kids - love walking under big trees."

Council reserves officer Renee Gordon said the trees were estimated to have been between 50 and 70 years old.

The council would work with police to track down the offenders.

Anybody who saw trees on reserves being cut down should contact the council or police.

There had been a few cases where people had tried to cut down trees, but had done it incorrectly and left them hanging dangerously, she said.

People may have seen the trees being chopped down and thought it was council staff, Ms Tait said.

She believed the trees were taken to sell as firewood, as each tree would yield a huge amount of wood.