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Eight pohutukawa trees were cut down with a chainsaw in south Auckland by a vandal who fled the scene, police said.
The incident occurred around 6.30pm on October 25 on Harborside Drive in Karaka, and it left the locals “devastated.”
Manukau County Police Inspector Tony Wakelin said an officer attended shortly after the incident and discovered that the vandal had left in a vehicle.
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A vandal has cut down eight pohutukawa trees in south Auckland, leaving locals devastated, police said.
“It was established that eight mature pohutukawa trees along the street frontage had been felled with a chainsaw,” he said.
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“These were mature miniature pohutukawa trees that have been growing for many years. Their destruction has left the residents devastated.”
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Locals witnessed around four people drinking in the area before the incident occurred.
Wakelin said residents believe this suspected criminal had been in one of two cars where people had been seen drinking in the area prior to this incident.
A local, who did not want to be identified, explained that his neighbor was at home at the time.
“My neighbor heard a lot of noise, he looked out the window and saw a man with a chainsaw,” he said.
RICKY WILSON / Stuff
The Pohutukawas were loved by residents who are shocked by the vandalism.
“When my neighbor came out to see what was happening, he ran away.”
Reece Prewett, president of the Karaka Harborside Community Group, said residents are shocked and dismayed by the “senseless vandalism.”
“These pohutukawa trees are iconic. During the summer, its beautiful red flowers make their way through the heart of our community, ”he said.
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Auckland City Council removed the downed trees on Tuesday morning.
“The community is already coming together to make sure the trees are replaced and to share any CCTV information and video they have with the police to help make sure the culprits face justice for their strange and desperate vandalism.
Auckland Council spokeswoman Kerri Fergusson said Tuesday morning that the council received a report of the felling of eight trees and left them where they were felled.
“The trees were healthy and well established, and it is devastating to see this kind of destruction,” he said.
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Police are asking residents to review CCTV footage to help identify the culprit.
“We have compliance officers in the area today consulting, and our investigation is ongoing.”
