This morning’s photos of Taupahi Road in beautiful fine summer weather serve a dual purpose. Their first role is to illustrate again how blissful our Turangi residential setting is. This is a typical scene of Noah on a morning walk – or ride – to pat the horses. (They gave me the warm fuzzies…) That is why we live here. The paddocks adjoin the residential development.

The other reason is to show photos of the glorious mature majestic oaks along the road. Do not be concerned about any danger from traffic. There isn’t any. Tourists often comment they cannot help but notice the lack of any congestion.

Taupahi Road is wider than most residential streets as it was originally the main north-south road before SH1 was formed to the west to link with the new town of Turangi back in the 1970’s. That explains the wide berm which adds heaps to the liveability and desirability. The row of mature deciduous trees provide a perfect setting. Soon they will be changing colour to enhance the Autum spectacle. How do you put a $ value on that? But then Toe-paw Council arrived…

The second reason for the photos is to show some trees are now missing. They stand out like like missing teeth.

Turangi is still waiting for Toe-paw Council to explain why?

The Council must have a sound reason to organise the team to manage the orange cones, Lines Company to take down the electric wires, trucks to move and cart away the prunings, plus the truck with the hydraulic arm to reach the lofty heights of the top branches.

But there was no warning or consultation or explanation. On Taupahi Road many properties are owned as holiday homes so the owners were not aware their trees were being slaughtered. They have complained to us again as we alerted them to the issue via TRM blogs.

Council’s last attempt to cut down a mature oak tree was thwarted at the last moment and now only the tall ugly stump remains. After almost three months the nearby property owners deserve an “official” explanation. After the recent rain it is sprouting again and may survive, but will never regain the original glory. Regular tourist visitors and absentee property owners keep asking what happened and suggest the council should be prosecuted?

Similarly, just south of TRM the row of five majestic trees was reduced to four, again without any explanation why? How many more will be felled?

Now, three months after the “pruning” they have still failed to explain why. That is inexcusable.

So that you can appreciate the “before and after” difference, the photo below was taken when the Council demolition gang originally moved in for the kill on 14 November 2024.

Any suggestions?