Neighbours!!

[Mom]

God help me I have turned into a tree hugger!

We have a magnificent stand of mature Totara trees at the back of our property, they are part of a belt of native trees that form a corridor for our feathered friends to move around in. We enjoy the Tui's, Woodpigeons etc that use it to get to where they need to be.

My friggen neighbours started the day with the arrival of a tractor (small one to be fair) and a dirty big truck, along with chainsaw and other destructive things. They then proceeded to "prune" back these huge trees! I use prune reservedly, they have hacked the shit out of these beautiful trees up to a height of maybe 10m and left them looking very sorry indeed.

The worst part for me was when I heard one of them say, "So what happens to these trees now, do they bush out again or something?" Well that would be a NO. Their concern was they were blocking light, preventing the grass from growing. BULLSHIT! We have the same trees in our place, the grass still grows under them. Albeit slowly compared to the rest of the lawn, but still green.

I have actually shocked myself with how strongly I feel about this.

Rant over.

[oldrider]

God help me I have turned into a tree hugger!

I am coming back in the next world as a totara tree, don't forget to wash your hands because I will be yours unashamedly! :yes: Cheers John.

[R6_kid]

Get a bottle of the hose applicator "30 seconds" stuff... wait till around 1.30am and then apply liberally to their 'precious' grass lawn

[yungatart]

We have a gorgeous golden totara at our place. Woe betide anyone who decides to give it a trim!
Trees are awesome. They provide food and shelter for the birds and airconditioning for us. And they demand little in return.

[Mom]

We have a gorgeous golden totara at our place. Woe betide anyone who decides to give it a trim!
Trees are awesome. They provide food and shelter for the birds and airconditioning for us. And they demand little in return.

You have seen our trees, they are lovely. Next doors ones look terrible now, and worst is I can see them from where I sit! I rang the council while the chainsaws were still going hard out, to ask if they had a permit. I am still waiting for someone to call me about it. What a shame Janet, terrible thing. I will take some pics soon.

I was sitting out there having a smoke and one of them popped his head over the fence and apologised for spoiling my Saturday peace with all the noise.....LOL. That was nice.

[BiK3RChiK]

My understanding is that with natives they are protected as soon as they are 'established' and NO ONE can prune or cut them down without going through heaps of red tape and such. We have several natives on our property and I know that they are protected. Whenever the lines guys turn up and say ' Those trees have to be pruned because they are a danger to the power lines' I say... 'Talk to the Council' and never see them again! I know of a guy in Whakatane who was fined $10,000 for every tree he cut down! I'd look further into this if I was you...

[rainman]

God help me I have turned into a tree hugger!


S'alright, happens to the best of us! :)


Get a bottle of the hose applicator "30 seconds" stuff... wait till around 1.30am and then apply liberally to their 'precious' grass lawn

But only if you really, really, really hate earthworms.


I rang the council while the chainsaws were still going hard out, to ask if they had a permit. I am still waiting for someone to call me about it.

Dunno what council area you're in (and I'm assuming these things vary a bit by region) but my local bunch protect all trees, native or not, over a certain height/girth (natives over 8m, exotics over 10m). You can only prune 10% total foliage in one year, and 25% over 3 years, without a consent. If they've given these trees a major haircut in one go they're in for a slappin' from the local council... perhaps wet bus tickets will be involved!

[Mom]

S'alright, happens to the best of us! :)


I am actually surprised at the level of angst I am feeling to be honest.

These trees are so important! Our council have brought sucessful prosecutions before today against randon destruction of trees, so fingers crossed!

I was warned when I made my call that it was being recorded. That is excellent, because the sound of chainsaws will be clearly heard. It is the weekend, so, as no lives were in danger I am not surprised not to hear anything.

Monday morning will tell the story, do you think 9:30am is long enough for someone to contact me?

[Timber020]

whose land were they on? Depending on where you live, age of trees etc then there should be protection on the trees, especially with them being natives. Bigger the tree, the higher the amenity value.

On the bright side, to some extent (dependant on how hard they have been cut and how healthy they were previously) they will at least partially recover, although they will suffer for it and it will shorten there lifespan. We have politely told customers to f off when it comes to heavy prunes of such trees, sadly this doesnt stop cowboys from being willing to do it. Dead in trees supports more life the living trees anyhow.

try to get hold of the tree officer or head arborist who deals with trees in the local area with the council. Hopefully your neighbour will go for a skate bad enough to be a warning to others. I know of a guy who took the tops out of some trees and ended up paying 30k for his stupidity.

Im a tree hugger, and make an okay living out of it, this kind of thing pisses me off, and I have helped in a few prosecutions, but the punishments arent nearly tough enough.

[Mom]

Here are a couple of pics I took this afternoon.

Pic 1: What our trees look like (apologies for the dead citrus tree) we have had a very dry summer, its mate is doing fine

Pic 2: This is pruning at its finest! That is the upper tree, the dinner plate sized branches they cut dont show.

Pic 3 : The neighbours trees

Pic 4 : Standing in the same spot, ours.

[BiK3RChiK]

Do you know the number of any Councillors? The local paper? Stir up the local community?

[Her_C4]

Pic 2 : This is pruning at its finest! That is the upper tree, the dinner plate sized branches they cut dont show.

Pic 3 : The neighbours trees

OMG what a sacrilege!!! :Oi:

[Mom]

Do you know the number of any Councillors? The local paper? Stir up the local community?

I will spend a bit of time on Monday following this up for certain. Tuesday I will do the same...LOL

This one has got to me, I have time, and I have energy to spare.

Autumn is planting season, most likely go and buy a couple of trees to plant along the fence line, deciduous of course, hate to take sun off the neigbours lawn.

[Mom]

OMG what a sacrilege!!! :Oi:

Sad eh?

10 chars!

[Unit]

How dear they spoil our back yard at your place! I feel for you and Mark. They could have got a professional in who know what they are doing, looks like they have just hacked limbs off, leaving the trees poorly weighted and unstable.
I love Totara's, they are in my most favourate trees list. When they reach their full potential they are magnificent trees, and they created a wonderful native feel to your place.
Follow it through Ann I say, the least the nabour could have done was talk to all the surrounding property owners first, to see how they felt about it.

[Mom]

Follow it through Ann I say, the least the nabour could have done was talk to all the surrounding property owners first, to see how they felt about it.

The man that owns next door is an old farmer from way back. I know him, he has done work for me here. His son lives in the back unit (it is a secondary dwelling, no proper kitchen etc), they have tenants in the front house who pay rent. This is illegal under the District Plan.

I am trying to find conscience at the moment and struggling to be fair!

[Unit]

I guess old farmers from way back are used to doing what 'needs to be done' on the farm, and fail to see the impact in a residential situation.
Thing is now, the damage is done, and no amount of reparation satisfaction is going to change that, a sad day. Hopefully the trees will at least live

[Mom]

I guess old farmers from way back are used to doing what 'needs to be done' on the farm, and fail to see the impact in a residential situation.
Thing is now, the damage is done, and no amount of reparation satisfaction is going to change that, a sad day. Hopefully the trees will at least live

I really hate making a fuss, although some may disagree...LOL

I will follow this one up though.

Reparation can come in the form of trees to the value of the branches cut off plus some, planted at???? Plenty of parks around here to chose from.

I hope the trees survive too! Bet the neighbour up the back is not happy may have to go and pay a visit up there.

[DMNTD]

I really hate making a fuss, although some may disagree...LOL
No surely not!! :eek:

[Mom]

No surely not!! :eek:

:Pokey:


:spanking:

[DMNTD]

:Pokey:
:spanking:

Promises promises Mommy... :blip:

[Bikernereid]

There is nothing wrong with being a tree hugger, I have been a proud one for years. And there is definitely nothing wrong with making sure that muppets who damage our protected natural nvironment are brough up to task by the proper authorities.

Do not question your actions you are doing the right thing and if as a consequence they don't do it again an others think twice before doing it at all then you have done a very very worthwhile thing.

Good luck with your council, please keep us posted.

[Toaster]

Sounds like a job for the rule infested RDC... there must be rules against cutting down trees of that height without council consent. Especially natives.

[Toaster]

Gotta love bush.

I love trees.... planted heaps on my property over the last couple years.

Oh and they make good firewood for fueling the burny thing in the lounge in winter.

[Coyote]

Some people several houses down decided to cut their trees down. We now have a nice view of the substation down the road.