

A source told the Otago Daily Times workers "were shocked" to arrive at the Adams Building to find more than five nearby native trees had been chopped down.
University of Otago chief operating officer Stephen Willis confirmed a row of about five pittosporums, which had reached their full height of 10m, along with four kōwhai trees had been removed in the courtyard between the Adams and Wellcome buildings and the nearby carpark.
A pair of semi-mature beech trees, which had reached a height of about 25m with trunks of between 40cm and 50cm in diameter, were also scheduled to be removed early next month.
The work was being undertaken after careful consideration and consultation since 2022 with multiple stakeholders, including health and safety experts, arborists and sustainability leaders, Mr Willis said.
It was not a decision that had been made lightly, he added.
"We understand that tree removal is never ideal and is the opposite of what we want to achieve on campus, but this decision has been made with the long-term wellbeing of both the campus community and the environment in mind."

Over eight years, the university had tried "several" options to deter the roosting, including sprinklers and chemical solutions, "but have not had success".
Pruning alone was not sufficient to mitigate these issues, he said.
"Staff waterblast the area weekly but this damages the pathing and this just shifts the droppings into the gardens.
"Generally, the buildup becomes unacceptable in a day or two."
The ongoing cost of bird control and cleaning in the area was "substantial" and the work would help to reduce these expenses while improving the usability of the space.
While the university had decided to remove certain trees, it would create an opportunity for smaller native species to thrive — including a totara tree in the courtyard.
It was also exploring ways to repurpose timber from the felled beech trees in the courtyard, which had the potential to become a more inviting and enjoyable space for staff and students, Mr Willis said.