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Police are investigating the willful damage of three native trees in Gulf Harbour, which appears to be an attempt to improve views of the marina.
Damage to two trees within the Marina Views apartment complex, which has severely impacted the health of one tree by removing most of the foliage, was discovered on January 20. This followed the savage pruning of a protected mature pōhutukawa located on a nearby walkway, just before Christmas.
Marina Views body corporate committee chair Catherine McGrath says she saw the pōhutukawa being pruned but thought it was Council contractors. Once the other trees were damaged, residents connected the incidents and realised it was the work of vandals.
Catherine says residents, who are angry and devastated, have made a formal complaint to Police.
The pōhutukawa is on a private walkway along the marina that belongs to the Gulf Harbour Marine Village. Its facilities manager, Steve Law, says his organisation has also notified police and may have security camera footage to assist with identifying the culprits.
The maximum penalty for a willful damage conviction is three months imprisonment or a fine not exceeding $2000.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Whangaparāoa Police, 424 6500.
Signs of life on Arkles trees
Meanwhile, the pōhutukawas on the Arkles Bay foreshore that were discovered poisoned last October are showing signs of recovery, with new green shoots now emerging after several months of care by Auckland Council and local residents, who are watering the trees. The perpetrators of this vandalism have yet to come forward to Council.
