A Wānaka councillor is hoping for information which may lead to prosecution following the discovery that trees near the lake have been poisoned.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) was alerted last month to two groups of trees which were suspected as being poisoned: one was a group near the lake’s edge at the northern end of Beacon Point Road and a second at the lake’s edge near the junction of Lakeside Road and Beacon Point Road.

QLDC media and channels advisor Sam White said a QLDC arborist inspected the trees at the first location and found a group of mature poplar trees exhibiting signs of “advanced decline”.

One multi-stemmed tree within the group had drill or auger holes in it.

Drilling into a tree and inserting certain herbicides is one method for killing trees.

“...our arborist concluded it’s likely that the other trees around the drilled one were in decline as a result of either the use of a specific herbicide such as one that could be painted onto bark, or because the neighbouring trees grafted their roots together naturally over time and have thereby all been affected by herbicide administered by drilling a single tree,” Sam said.

At the second location the arborist found a number of recent drill/auger holes in two mature poplars.

He said he believed some form of herbicide had been administered into the tree via the holes. 

“There was a similar incident 50 metres from this location approximately three years ago when two established birch trees died as a result of drilling and herbicide.”

The trees are showing signs of advanced decline.

Sam said the discovery of poisoned trees in the district is “not uncommon”.

Wānaka councillor Quentin Smith told the Wānaka App the damage had caused “significant die back”.

“I’m appalled and saddened that people would kill established trees on public land and calling for information to assist in prosecution,” he said.

Sam said the council takes reports of possible deliberate poisonings very seriously.

“Trees provide huge benefit to community wellbeing in terms of our precious landscape, essential shade and more. Any damage seriously risks shortening their lifespan and could cause further damage or injury from falling branches or the tree itself falling.”

Anyone noticing suspicious activity is encouraged to report it to QLDC customer services so it can be properly investigated, he said.

A full report on the latest two incidents will be reviewed by council’s enforcement team in due course.

PHOTOS: Supplied