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Tree poisoner returns to finish job

 
 

16 MF-PoisonPo1-865An unknown assailant has once again violated a treasured group of native New Zealand icons.

One hundred-year-old pohutukawa trees on a long-standing, family-owned Mangawhai property have suffered a second attack in October, from another dose of a poison substance.

Son-in-law of the owners of the Eveline Street land, Peter Ferguson, says the 10 to 12 native trees were poisoned three years ago but some survived and were showing signs of new growth.

“Seems the person has returned to finish the job,” he says. “They’ll be pretty much dead if this second poisoning works… he would have won.”

Ferguson acted immediately when he saw rust-coloured rings on the bark of the trees, scraping out large amounts of pellets from six inch drilled holes with a long knife before flushing the cavities with a hose until the poisonous foam subsided.

“It would have taken a good hour with a powerful drill to do the holes, they’ve gone to a lot of effort,” he says. “The person also threw granules all over the ground and into a small cave, maybe to get the poison leeching into the earth.”

Access to the trees would have been easy, Ferguson says, as the property is secluded and borders public steps.

As the pohutukawa are growing along a sandstone embankment, the family are also concerned about the possible risks if the root systems are harmed.

16 MF-PoisonPo3-464“The trees hold up the bank so what is going to happen if they die?” he says. “It’s very dangerous.”

Ferguson first discovered the poisoning three years ago, noticing ugly holes in the stump of an old gum that was beginning to re-sprout.

An inspection of other trees on the property revealed more than ten pohutukawa had been drilled and administered poison.

The degree of the damage was revealed the following year when the trees showed no new growth and dead branches lay strewn over the property.

Financially the cost has been high, with the owners, a couple in their 70s, spending over $5000 to hire equipment to reach high deadwood and clear debris.

However, if all the effected trees die from the latest poisoning attempt, the owners also face an arborist bill of $50,000.

“If the responsible person just came and asked, perhaps an arrangement could have been made but they didn’t, they just caused damage and destruction,” Ferguson says. “My in-laws are very upset, they can’t understand why someone would do this… they’re nice, generous people and allow people access to the beach through their land and to see the views… they just want to share it.”

The family believe the trees are blocking someone’s outlook and have done some investigation into trying to pinpoint the location of the culprit’s house.

“The area of the poisoned trees are in a line and point to four or five distant houses. If the trees are gone it would give someone a clear view of the sand bar. Perhaps it is a fisherman, a guy with a boat who wants to see if the bar is exposed so he can cross it?” he says. “Sea views also add value to a property of course.”

Local police were not available at the time of publishing for further comment but are aware of the situation and have advised the family to install CCTV systems.

Ferguson posted the poisoning attempt on Mangawhai’s local Facebook page to make the community aware of the situation.

The Mangawhai community appears outraged at the tree assaults and has offered advice and support.

“Someone will know this person – they’re arrogant and will probably show off saying that he’s ‘got his views’,” Ferguson says. “What do you say to someone like that, who would do something like this?”


“It would have taken a good hour with a powerful drill to do the holes, they’ve gone to a lot of effort.”

- Peter Ferguson


DANGEROUS: The line of dead Pohutukawa's devastated by an assault of poison. Roots of the 100-year-old trees secure an embankment near buildings.

DELIBERATE: Precisioned 25ml drilled holes where possibly herbicide was administered. Orang Otang Tree Trimmers specialist Regan Davies said it would be hard to identify the exact poison.

-BY JULIA WADE


 
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