Last year, property owner Rosemary Creighton applied for consent from the Dunedin City Council to remove the tree, which was growing 3m from her Roslyn home.
In her publicly notified application, Ms Creighton said it was a difficult decision, but the house — a Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga category 2 historic place, known as "Mahara" — required a lot of maintenance, which was being frustrated by the fast-growing tree.
The tree had seven trunks, its roots were damaging the foundations, it prevented scaffolding from being erected and obstructed views from the main bedroom, she said.
Dunedin City Council planner Finn Campbell recommended consent be granted and the tree removed.
In his section 42a report, Mr Campbell said the tree and the heritage building appeared to be "incompatible" with each other.
While the pōhutukawa was in good health and protected under the council’s Second Generation District Plan, it was preventing necessary maintenance on the heritage building which, if deferred, would have adverse effects on the home.
Any attempt to accommodate building works and the pōhutukawa, such as pruning back tree limbs, would reduce the tree’s aesthetic quality — enough that it likely would not qualify for protected status, Mr Campbell said.
"I consider that the proposal represents a ‘true exception’ that would not undermine the integrity of the [district plan].
"The likely adverse effects of the proposed activity will be no more than minor at a local level and given the particular circumstances relevant to this case, removal will be balanced by the increased visibility and prominence of the heritage building on the subject site."
The council received four submissions on the application — two for and two against.
The tree’s fate will be considered by the council’s hearing committee on Wednesday.
