Pruning or removing trees on public land

Auckland’s trees are cared for by a team of professional arborists and urban foresters who are qualified to assess and maintain a healthy tree canopy.

Our tree management is guided by industry best practice, Auckland’s Urban Ngahere (Forest) Strategy, and our tree management contract specifications.

Why we prune trees on public land 

Our arborists prune our trees to manage risk and maintain tree health and longevity. 

Our team monitors tree conditions in urban areas and prune them only when needed. A routine street tree pruning takes place, on average, every five years.

Trees are pruned if they obstruct:

• powerlines 
• footpath and roads
• street lighting
• vehicle access to public areas
• traffic signage and road visibility.

Trees are pruned according to industry best practice. 

When we do not prune trees 

We do not prune public trees:

• to reduce leaf, seed, flower, fruit, or twig debris 
• to preserve or create views for properties
• for solar access or to reduce shade cast
• for property development.

We do not practice or condone tree topping, which is the removal of large branches at the top of the tree for height reduction. 

Topping can result in weak re-growth, decay, safety issues, increased maintenance, and a shortened life span.

Public tree removal

We may remove trees from public land when they are dead, dying, diseased or dangerous to people or property. 

A tree may be removed if:

• it is diseased, dead, or incurably declining
• it is causing a traffic issue or reducing visibility of a road or footpath that pruning cannot resolve
• it is needed to preserve other trees
• it is assessed by a qualified arborist as needing to be removed.
  

When we will not remove a tree

A public tree will not be removed:

• to preserve or create views for properties
• for solar access or to reduce shade
• to reduce leaf litter or tree debris fall
• because of roosting birds
• for seasonal or minor allergenic or irritant response
• for unfounded property damage claims.