Kia ora,
The last 6 months have seen an alarming series of mature trees felling in Wānaka, particularly windbreaks!
In Orange, gone already or Can we Save Those Trees ?
Does this concern you?
These trees were planted by wise elders, some of them still alive, to protect our community from cold Southerlies and frequent strong Westerlies. Everyone in Wānaka is going to receive more freaky winds. Many people I know expressed, disbelief, sadness, helplessness. To stop the massacre, I have developed knowledge of trees and I share it here for the defense of the trees.
It’s important.
Trees, as everyone knows, are essential green urban infrastructure and wellbeing treasures so protecting trees is the cornerstone of regenerative development.
Trees are intelligent sentient beings we only begin to understand. Life.
Every tree is a taonga, essential in a climate emergency.
All the solutions exist, science is clear, international institutions support climate action.
Keeping existing trees, particularly mature trees is right up the list.
I care enough to have started a campaign to Protect Wānaka Trees. I invite you to read this article, written from the point of view of trees, who all want to live a long and happy life till they die. I understand we all have different perspectives on this, the discussion is happening. In the meantime, we need a PAUSE.
I spoke at a QLDC public forum in February 2026 following the amazonic tree removals from Orchard road, I asked for MORATORIUM ON TREE FELLING and proposed to extend the QLDC tree policy to ALL trees. Bristol did it and several cities have signed on to the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Tree. It’s possible.
By the time I spoke again at a QLDC public forum in July, at least 5 more windbreaks had been felled. I shared vision and solutions for a Regenerative urban design, and called for a MORATORIUM ON NEW CONSENTS until we discuss Smart growth. Greytown has done it. It’s possible.
I will next talk to the Council on the 27th August specifically to Pause Tree Felling, discuss the Eely point forest “replacement” plan and the Metlife-Golf course public trees felling deal.
I advocate for immediate tree protection with three tools, extending the existing tree policy, the Bristol model and the Rights of Trees declaration.
We can no longer ignore it. So I share a vision for a beautiful regenerative resilient Wānaka, starting by protecting trees. It’s exciting, possible, nearly free, and our town will be full of birds!
I believe in collective action for change, both rules and culture change.
So I organise a Meeting to save Wānaka Trees Saturday 5th September 2026: a 15mn presentation, followed by discussion on next steps to protect our Trees, I have many ideas!
I invite the Tree lovers in our Community, elected councilors and press too.
Save our Trees meeting on Saturday 5 September, 5-6.30 pm
Wānaka Community Hub meeting room
For Love 
, with Love
Thank you for reading.
Join me on this journey starting 5th September!
Florence
Appendix
Here I add new developments and campaigns.
Here today, I start a new thread sharing on Love Wānaka Trees. Curious?
Can we save those Trees?
Regenerative Livestyle Blog 
11/08/2026 at 5:15 am
QLDC Trees documents
https://www.qldc.govt.nz/services/environment-and-sustainability/trees/benefits-of-urban-trees
https://www.qldc.govt.nz/services/environment-and-sustainability/trees/trees-in-the-district-plan
https://www.qldc.govt.nz/services/environment-and-sustainability/trees
18/08/2026 at 10:22 pm
Important article by The Tree Council to protect our trees against destructive NZ government’s policies.
https://treecouncil.org.nz/no-more-urban-trees/
18/08/2026 at 11:01 pm
The Tree Council UK, “working together for the Love of Trees”, inspiring! Thank you for this ground work.
https://treecouncil.org.uk/
18/08/2026 at 11:21 pm
These guys are awesome too!
https://www.notabletrees.org.nz/
22/08/2026 at 3:39 am
11 March 2023, Marjory Cook says “The fate of 70 trees facing the chop on Wanaka’s golf course remains uncertain. The Wanaka Upper Clutha Community Board decided recently to “let the matter lie on the table” until more information about a reservoir and replanting plan was obtained”
https://www.odt.co.nz/otago/wanaka/trees-still-on-the-chopping-block-as-decision-deferred-hit1zxiq
I couldn’t read the article ! But it shows that cutting 70 trees was heavily questioned 3 years ago.
This year, 650 trees from a 750-metre windbreak were removed from the same public land of the golf course without public consultation. There was reported bribery. https://www.fogolf.com/1104949/wanaka-golf-club-strikes-tree-removal-deal-with-developer/
This needs to stop. Simply protect all trees now, for perpetuity, and start discussing exemptions. With Love for the trees and birds, for society, the planet… Trees are family!
23/08/2026 at 10:31 pm
Eely Point
The beloved Eely point reserve is on a replacement programme. But this is murky.
In a 2020 consultation on Beacon point, the public supported “thinning, pruning and removal of unstable pines” at Eely Point. And states “that this area be retained and managed”.
Just 5 years later, Tend Trees Consultancy were appointed to create a “strategic approach for the systematic removal and replacement of conifers within Eely Point Recreation Reserve with native and suitable exotic species…” Systematic removal is in the brief of the project! https://www.qldc.govt.nz/media/puglszo3/6b-attachment-b-final-eely-point-tree-succession-plan.pdf
That’s not what the public supported. What happened within the Council?
Since then, a strip of mature trees has been stripped at Eely Point.
I think it’s fair to discuss Eely point again, native or not native, these trees are essential green infrastructure. We need to discuss the native-exotic segregation and widen the wilding perspective. This is the goal of our Tree Protection campaign.
28/08/2026 at 3:58 am
Speech to the Council yesterday, with a welcoming to the meeting.