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The Tupunga Autority and Treescape are proud to start a restoration project with the removing of various exotic species on Maungarei. A two year project includes replacing 100 ageing pine trees on Mount Wellington with 10,000 native plant species.

The trees at the summit were removed with a helicopter and a crane using latest removal technology. In the Phase 2, there will be 10,000 local seeds planted on the steep Western edge of Maungarei, restoring and repairing the local ecosystem to be what it should have been.

Once completed, it will be one of the largest expanses of native bush in the Maungakiekie-Tamaki area.

After the extensive tree damage and power outages during the storm in April 2018,  a large volume of mature pine tree had to be removed.  The challenge was all those trees were in close proximity to the power lines. It took Treescape and Vector two months of planning to set everything up and we utilised the power of the Waratah Harvester Head attachment.

• Speed: To mininise the disruption caused to the community by the power outage. The power lines were down for just two days instead of estimated five.
• Safety:  The excavator operator was able to carry out the entire felling operation from within the cab. It reduced reliance on manual fallers around dangerous trees significantly.
• Efficiency: The efficiency of the Waratah Head minimised the cost of the operation.

Treescape has been involved in a big restoration project in Palmerston North, that focuses on bringing Te Motu o Poutoa cliff-top lookout to the pre-European conditions. To be able to achieve this, the exotic trees need to be replaced with native vegetation. As simple as it sounds, due to the historical value of the site, we had to use helicopters to remove 30 mature exotic pines. Helicopters  allowed us to avoid significant damage to the archaeological remains if done by excavators. Now it’s time for planting!

Ryan Mellor, Treescape arborist, is removing the pine top.
Photo courtesy by Warwick Smith/Stuff. Video provided by Ryan Mellor

What happened

Over the Christmas break a large pine tree growing on the neighbour’s northern boundary across the stream, fell onto our Portacom Toilet Block.

Fortunately, no one was using it at the time.

What we did

Engaged the latest technology to dismantle and lift out the the complete stand of trees. They were lifted using a 250T mobile crane and processed on site.

Drone technology captures the dismantlement from the air, providing a bird’s eye view of the whole operation.

A fallen tree damaged a home, leading Housing New Zealand to commission the removal of 30 large pine trees to prevent further risk to residents. The steep, inaccessible site and the need to protect waterways meant machinery couldn’t be used, making helicopter extraction the safest option. After confirming no native long-tailed bats were present, eight specialist climbers dismantled the trees for airlifting to a nearby landing zone. Two dogmen coordinated with the helicopter pilot and ground crew operating chippers, diggers and trucks. Over 2.5 days, the team completed 170 lifts—around 170 tonnes—using a Sky Works Eurocopter AS350 B3. Residents later praised the precision, coordination and professionalism demonstrated throughout the operation.

The regeneration of native forest at Western Springs Lakeside Te Waiōrea is complete following the removal of 224 unstable, aging pine trees that posed serious safety risks. The 95-year-old pines had been deteriorating for years, resulting in the track’s closure in 2018. To safely reopen the area, Auckland Council determined full removal was necessary under health and safety obligations. Most pine material was chipped for mulch, while larger logs were retained onsite to support habitat. A geospatial assessment showed only 16.3% disturbance, far lower than similar projects. A restoration programme has since planted 7,800 native trees with support from local students and volunteers, helping re-establish habitat for native wildlife.