Trees have been targeted in two separate locations in Cromwell, by what the Central Otago District Council (CODC) suspects is wilful damage.

During recent tree maintenance work, the council’s arborist found two London Plane trees growing in Cromwell had what appeared to be drill holes at their base, which indicated they had been poisoned.

One of the trees has died and was recently removed by the CODC, while the other tree would be monitored in the hope it would survive and not have to be removed, but was clearly in a poor state, CODC parks and recreation manager Gordon Bailey said.

Two trees have been found with holes drilled into the base of their trunks, in what is an act of suspected poisoning. PHOTO: CODC

There are two trees in Cromwell, which CODC has found with drill holes, while a further two have been cut down. PHOTO: CODC

In another area of Cromwell, council staff have also discovered two mature cherry trees had been chopped down on the verge.

Council views the incidents as wilful damage to public property.

“We are aware that trees are often seen as an issue for some people, however, the role trees play in providing shade, home for wildlife and mitigating the effects on the climate generally outweigh any negative effects from leaves or roots.”

There were significant costs to removing these trees, and their stumps, which would restrict what council could spend on maintaining other trees, he said.

Council did not reveal the exact location of the trees.

CODC group manager – community experience David Scoones said it was not so much about the location of the trees; "we just want to point out that we [are] aware of the damage happening and are reminding the community to look after these trees, and any trees on council land that have an issue should be a conversation with the council, please, before any action is taken".

Under council's tree policy, dated 2022, it states that it would assess and, where appropriate, replace trees on council land that have been wilfully killed, removed or damaged.

Council would also refer incidents of wilful tree damage, theft, or death to the police, and would request an investigation into the matter, and prosecute if possible.

The recent discovery of damaged trees was not the first instance the council had come across.

In its policy, it notes that there had been several incidents in recent years of members of the public stealing or wilfully damaging council trees, including deliberately killing trees.

Council reminds the public that this type of activity is an offence under several New Zealand statutes.

"It also represents a wasteful squandering of public resources. The council will respond strongly to any incidence of wilful damage to Council trees," the policy states.