Why we need to remove the Pōhutukawa trees on Pouewe St, Kāwhia

Why we need to remove the Pōhutukawa trees on Pouewe St, Kāwhia

We appreciate the time and effort our community put into sharing their thoughts and feedback during the recent consultation on the Pōhutukawa trees along Pouewe St. We understand that many of you have a strong connection to these trees and that this decision is not what many had hoped for.

After careful consideration of all feedback and the available options, we have made the difficult decision to proceed with removing the trees. This decision was not made lightly but was necessary to ensure the safety of our community, protect the seawall, and manage future costs.

We remain committed to preserving the natural beauty of Kāwhia and will explore options for new tree planting. Thank you again for your engagement and understanding as we work together to ensure the long term wellbeing of our town.

Summary of the situation

The Kāwhia Community Board (KCB) has considered and approved the removal of 10 Pōhutukawa trees along the seawall at Pouewe St. Although the trees have strong community support, their removal is recommended to protect the seawall and improve safety. This issue has been reviewed multiple times, with public consultation taking place from 14 October to 4 November 2024.

You can watch a recording of the Kāwhia Community Board meeting where this decision was made here.

You can find the full Kāwhia Community Board reports here.

Key reasons for tree removal

Protecting the seawall:

• The trees' roots are damaging the seawall, leading to long-term deterioration.
• Removing the trees would help maintain the wall’s integrity and prevent costly repairs in the future.

Safety and accessibility:

• Removing the trees will allow space for a new footpath, improving pedestrian safety along the beachfront.
• Without this, the growing trees may further restrict access and create more safety hazards.

Cost consideration:

• Tree removal is the most affordable solution.
• Alternatives, such as building a new seawall or relocating it, are expensive and would require significant investment ($50K-$100K for planning alone).

Community feedback

• 59% want to keep the trees.
• 19% suggest building a new seawall.
• 16% want further investigation into alternatives.
• 6% support removing the trees.

While most feedback favors keeping the trees, the Board must balance community sentiment with practical concerns about infrastructure and safety.

Options considered

• Protects the seawall, reduces costs, and allows space for a safe footpath.

• Preserves community attachment but risks further seawall damage and future costs.

• Costly and complex, requiring resource consent and significant disruption.

Conclusion and recommendation

Despite strong community support to retain the trees, removing them is recommended as the most practical and cost-effective solution to safeguard the seawall, enhance pedestrian safety, and manage future costs. Planting new trees elsewhere is suggested to offset the environmental impact.

This decision is tough, but it's essential to protect critical infrastructure and ensure long term safety and accessibility for everyone in Kāwhia.