London Plane trees are a defining feature of Victoria Avenue and play a big part in the look and feel of Whanganui’s CBD. We work to care for and renew these trees over time, ensuring they continue to provide benefits while keeping people safe and protecting surrounding infrastructure.
Why London Plane trees?
London Plane trees are well-suited to life in a busy urban environment.
They’re:
- Tolerant of pollution and heavy traffic
- Strong and reliable in city conditions
- Great at providing shade in summer, helping keep the CBD cooler
- Deciduous, meaning they let more sunlight through in winter
They’re also an important part of Whanganui’s history. The trees were originally chosen by Mayor James Laird in the 1880s as part of a street-planting programme that helped shape Victoria Avenue and the rest of the city into what they are today.
Switching to a smaller or native species would change the character of the CBD and may not provide the same level of resilience or environmental benefits.
A planned renewal cycle
The London Plane trees along sections of Victoria Avenue are managed as part of a regular renewal programme, usually every 7–10 years.
These can grow quickly — up to eight metres in a decade — and can reach heights of around 40 metres if left unmanaged. In a busy city environment, that kind of growth can put pressure on footpaths, roads and kerbing.
By renewing the trees in stages, we can:
- Keep the overall tree canopy healthy and consistent
- Reduce damage to surrounding infrastructure
- Introduce improvements like root barriers to better manage future growth
Why are some trees removed?
In some parts of Victoria Avenue, the roots of the larger trees have pushed nearby pavers out of place, creating uneven surfaces and potential trip hazards for pedestrians.
While it might seem like a simple fix, repairing the paving would require cutting back significant roots. This can weaken the tree, affect its health and stability, and increase the risk of it failing.
For that reason, removing and replacing certain trees is sometimes the safest and most practical long-term option.
Our approach to urban trees
We place a high value on street trees and the role they play in making Whanganui a great place to live. We manage more than 6000 street trees and 10,000 surveyed parks and reserve trees, in addition to thousands of square metres of as-yet unsurveyed wilderness areas, tree belts and road reserve areas.
While removing trees isn’t something taken lightly, it’s sometimes necessary to keep people safe and protect infrastructure. Decisions are made with the long term in mind, ensuring the city continues to benefit from a healthy and sustainable urban treescape.
Street trees:
- Improve air quality
- Provide shade and help reduce heat
- Enhance the look and feel of our streets
- Support community wellbeing
The council remains committed to looking after Whanganui’s trees so they can be enjoyed now and by future generations.