Illegal tree felling ends up costing $7000

Monday, 6 July 2026

A person who illegally chopped down a Cambridge street tree will have to hand over $7000.

Waipā District Council prosecuted the person after they felled “a healthy, mature street tree on Stafford Street” on November 14, 2025, a council statement said.

The court process led to a diversion agreement and the defendant must make a $5000 donation to the Cambridge Tree Trust.

Another $2000 must be paid to the council to cover the costs of dealing with remaining trunk and stump, and planting something else, the council statement said.

Other conditions included writing a letter of apology and agreeing that the council would publicly share the outcome of the prosecution.

The council had prosecuted in this case to show that intentional damage to public trees has consequences, and noted there had been increasing incidents of vandalism involving council trees.

“We know people can feel strongly about trees, but if there are concerns, we encourage residents to talk to us first rather than taking matters into their own hands,” the council’s acting group manager of customer and community services Barbara Dempsey said.

Street trees belong to the whole community and have benefits such as providing shade, supporting stormwater functions and contributing to neighbourhood character, the council said. They can take decades to replace once removed.

Trees that are on council land shouldn’t be removed, pruned or damaged without council approval - including those on street berms and reserves, the council said.

Anyone who witnesses vandalism or damage to council trees is asked to report it to Waipā District Council.