Auckland Council have planted 37 Magnolia Grandiflora trees down Anglesea Street which are slowly taking away the best view of Ponsonby. Right outside Chapel and Elmos, the council even put a seated area there for us to enjoy our beautiful city. When I first came to New Zealand in 1999 with BBC Television filming it was the opening shot for our Travel show; it's an iconic spot for tourists who now stand in the middle of the road to get the view.
We have lived in the Ponsonby area for over 20 years and have a one of these Magnolia Grandifloras trees in our garden, they are rigorous growers that need regular pruning. Because of their size they are meant for parks, not berms next to Heritage Villas. They can grow up to 24m tall with a root system that is four times as big as the tree. They are not native, they are evergreen so take light and their roots can be invasive, get into drains and unlevel pavements. This has already started down Anglesea Street where the council have band-aided a couple of spots; it feels like it's just the start.
I foresee the next decade will be that Anglesea Street becomes like Franklin and Picton where the trees have overtaken completely. We will not only have the hefty rates bill for the fixing of drains and pavements along with the closure of the street to complete these works but we'll have absolutely no view out over our beautiful city from Ponsonby Road. Isn't this a lose lose for everyone?
May I suggest we replace the trees with low level natives?
Clare McIntosh
Ponsonby
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Letter to the Editor: 37 giant Magnolia Grandiflora trees
