Council asking public to nominate notable Kaipara trees

JULIA WADE

23 May, 2022

As the June date draws near for the draft of Kaipara’s District Plan to be released for community consideration, citizens and tree lovers have an opportunity to protect and preserve an asset vital for life itself – local trees.

Under the plan, Kaipara District Council (KDC) are looking to review the current list of notable trees and are looking for feedback regarding which public-dwelling specimens people believe need protection or to be critically assessed, from the effects of subdivision and development. Nominations close on June 23, 2022.

Trees are a living historical record, KDC’s strategy, policy and governance manager, Michael Day says, ‘and every tree tells a story’.

“The oldest of them have a lot to say about the history of Kaipara… they are also beautiful and make our district a pleasant place to live. Noting trees in our District Plan educates other people about significant trees and helps protect them by reducing the risk of them being destroyed,” he says. “We’re asking the public to nominate those trees they think have historic, scenic or scientific significance so we can evaluate them.”

To nominate a copse or a single tree, locals need to submit the type – such as pohutukawa, rimu, oak – the location, age if known, a photo and reasons why this tree should be added to the notable trees list.

To be considered notable and worthy of protection, and warrant a place on the District Plan, trees nominated need to be identified and evaluated by a qualified arborist. An assessment is made via the use of the widely-accepted Standard Tree Evaluation Method (STEM) developed by Ron Flook in 1996 and adopted by the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture and the NZ Arboricultural Association. However, while some trees may potentially be added to the District Plan, sadly not all will make the cut.

n Want to know more? Read about notable trees in the District Plan’s ‘Historical Heritage, Sites and Areas of Significance to Maori and Notable Trees Discussion document’ and the District Plan Review, both found on the Kaipara District Plan Review website kaipara.govt.nz

Beautiful living records of Kaipara’s history, notable trees often have historic, scenic, or scientific significance which warrant protection in the area’s District Plan. Locals can now have their say on what trees they would like to see protected. PHOTO/JULIA WADE