A World War 1 memorial oak tree in Kurow is to be removed because it is causing problems for Network Waitaki power lines.
The tree is one of more than 400 oak trees planted around North Otago in 1919 as a living monument to each North Otago soldier killed in World War 1.
Under the district plan, the memorial oak trees are protected by their category 1 status.
Recreation manager Erik van der Spek said the Waitaki District Council planning department had worked with the Memorial Oaks Committee to approve the removal of the tree in Manse St, Kurow, after concerns were raised by Network Waitaki.
At a community services committee meeting this week, councillor June Slee expressed her surprise that the removal had been approved.
''I don't think there's any need for that, for the memorial oak to be cut down.
''I think it's a travesty.''
Mr van der Spek said removing a memorial oak was not a decision they took lightly.
The Memorial Oaks Committee is involved in discussions with the council about relocating the tree.
Council chief executive officer Michael Ross said from time to time the council encountered problems when trees were near powerlines.
One memorial oak on State Highway 1 near Palmerston was ''in a precarious position in that it's actually leaning over the state highway''.
The council had approached the family of the soldier to involve them in the process of replanting a new tree.
''These things will occur as these trees get older and older and it's about having a sympathetic understanding about how we deal with this,'' Mr Ross said.
