Karaka chainsaw massacre: police release image of believed tree killer

Police are appealing any sighting of a man with a chainsaw believed to have cut down eight pohutukawa trees just weeks before flowering.

Auckland City Council was called in to clean up the carnage on Monday, following the random logging around 6:50 pm on Sunday.

Mature miniature pohutukawa trees, which grow on the council berms along Harborside Drive in Karaka, were cut down just weeks before their peak, their seasonal crimson bloom that many associate with the kiwi Christmas season.

Instead, the eight native trees were strewn across the trail and road after the demolition wave.

A horrified Papakura Local Board Chairman, Brent Catchpole, previously told the Herald that the destruction of the iconic trees had “completely destroyed our Christmas spirit.”

Police today released a picture of the alleged culprit, described as a solidly built European man between 30 and 40 years old, dark hair and a goatee.

He was photographed in a black T-shirt, shorts and rubber boots with a light-colored chainsaw slung over his shoulder.

Inspector Tony Wakelin, of the Manukau South Counties Police, urged anyone who may have seen the man Sunday to get in touch.

“Police know that there were several families walking on what was a beautiful sunny day who were in the area at the same time as this man,” he said.

“We appeal to anyone who may seem like him or the people he was with to come forward to assist in our investigation.

“We are also asking residents to review their CCTV footage to see if this man can be seen.”

Residents believed the alleged offender had been in one of two cars with occupants seen drinking in the area prior to the incident, Wakelin previously said.

The man had been seen cutting down trees on the main street with a chainsaw, but had disappeared before the police arrived.

Wakelin acknowledged that the images of the man weren’t very clear, but said he hoped someone who knew the man would recognize him and introduce themselves.

The destroyed trees were in a section of Harborside Drive between Silkwood Cres and the eastern end of Normanby Rd.

They were planted about 15 years ago when the suburb along the Manukau estuary developed.

Catchpole said it was “strange” for someone to cut down the beloved trees.

“There is probably one tree every other house. All you will see now is stumps. The city hall contractors worked all day yesterday cutting them down before taking them away because they were lying on the other side of the trail and even on the road and they just left.

“Someone is obviously unhappy because there are trees on a berm.”

Reece Prewett, president of the Karaka Harborside Community Group, said residents
they are “shocked and dismayed by the senseless vandalism in our community.”

“These pohutukawa are iconic,” he said.

“During the summer, its beautiful red flowers make their way through the heart of our community. Our tree-lined streets are beloved by residents, they are part of what makes our community such a beautiful place to live.”

The community was already coming together to ensure the trees were replaced, Prewett said.

Any information about the incident should be contacted by the Papakura Police at 105 or Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111, quoting the file number: 201026/6667.