"They're history," Mike Tudor said yesterday, as he studied the massive pines next to the clearing where at least five pines were toppled by the high winds, with others snapping in half.
Mr Tudor and his partner Jean Milnes gathered up their five children and fled the house on Sunday morning, fearing for their safety as high winds bowled the 60m-high trees and debris peppered their home, breaking windows.
"The pine cones and branches falling on the roof sounded like artillery - it was a hell of a noise, especially the cones bouncing on the roof," Mr Tudor said.
Some of the trees still standing near the home are 120 years old but they will be joining the growing pile of firewood.
"I'm going to drop the rest of them. We're not going to risk any more falling over."
Large broken branches are hanging in some of the trees, suspended dangerously high above the ground.
"Look at all those widow-makers.
"I'll be getting rid of them before they get the chance to land on anyone," he said.
The family is staying with friends at Ophir.
They hope to return home today.
Power lines ripped out by falling trees have yet to be repaired but Mr Tudor said the power cables would instead be reinstalled underground.
"We'd planned to do that anyway, so our plans have been hurried up a bit."
He had to remove the power lines from his partner's car on Sunday so the family could leave the property.
Her vehicle was dented by falling debris, he said.
The wind cut a swathe through the trees, flattening all the vegetation on the hillside.
One of the bonuses, however, was the clearing had let more light in to their home.
"We'll be replanting trees, but not quite so near the house."
Although unnerved by the experience and still "licking our wounds", the family was counting its blessings, he said.
"Nobody was hurt, which was pretty amazing considering the falling trees and branches and flying glass, and the good news was our water tank [in the midst of the flattened trees] wasn't even touched."
The five children returned to school at Omakau yesterday, keen to share their experience with schoolmates.
The trees were probably at the end of their lives anyway, Mr Tudor said.
Although the earthquake might have been a contributing factor and loosened the soil, the ground was already sodden after 8cm of rain recently.
"The ground was covered with snow for about 60 days this winter too, so we've had the snow, the rain, the earthquake and now this . . ."
