Vandals chop down and poison 23 sacred trees and shrubs in Takapuna
Kia ora koutou. Vandals have allegedly poisoned and cut down dozens of native trees and shrubs of huge significance to Māori near Takapuna Beach.
Around 23 trees and shrubs at Te Uru Tapu (The Sacred Grove) at the northern end of the beach were discovered to have been vandalised during a regular inspection by Auckland Council’s senior urban forest specialist on Tuesday.
The grove of ancient pōhutukawa trees is of high significance to mana whenua, with the trees and vegetation in the area protected by the Auckland Unitary Plan.
A section of the grove has been fenced off since June 2018, due to the risk of trees falling onto a boardwalk below. It appeared someone had deliberately entered the restricted area to cut down the trees, which included karo, karaka, nīkau, tōtara and coprosmas. Drill holes were also found at the base of three mature karo trees, which suggested they had been poisoned.
None of the trees are expected to survive. Auckland Council has launched an investigation and is asking anyone with information to email sacredgrove@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Click 'read more' for the full story.
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Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
In The Post’s opinion piece on the developments set to open across Aotearoa in 2026, John Coop suggests that, as a nation, we’re “allergic to exuberance.”
We want to know: Are we really allergic to showing our excitement?
Is it time to lean into a more optimistic view of the place we call home? As big projects take shape and new opportunities emerge, perhaps it’s worth asking whether a little more confidence (and enthusiasm!) could do us some good.
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41.8% Yes
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32.1% Maybe?
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26.1% No
Heart Attack and Heart Health
Beat the heart attack before it starts - 10,000 people die of heart disease in New Zealand each year and over 3,000 premature deaths from heart disease could be saved with better knowledge of heart disease, pending heart attack symptoms and where to go for help.
Trent Lash, heart patient and founder of the largest community-led, peer-to-peer heart support group in New Zealand, will share with you what a heart attack looks like and why high blood pressure is a major issue. He will explain how heart disease mortality rates are as high as ALL cancers combined, and what help is available in the community and the healthcare sector, for heart patients.
WHERE: Glenfield Public Library, 90 Bentley Ave, GLENFIELD
WHEN: Today, Tuesday 16th December
TIME: 10:30am
EVERYONE IS WELCOME. Come along, learn from someone with 'lived experience' of heart issues, and what to look out for. You may just save a life - yours, a family member's, or one of your friends or whanau.
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