Southern View: May 27, 2021

SOUTHERN VIEW Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Thursday May 27 2021 5
Cabbage trees to rise again
• By Samantha Mythen
OLIVER LEWIS’ passion for
cabbage trees prompted him to
start a fundraiser to buy 24 of the
robust-trunked and sword-leafed
trees.
His goal: To replace the ones
poisoned along the causeway
section of the Coastal Pathway
in 2018.
Last week, in four hours, a
fundraising goal of $633.60
was reached. In total, $778 was
raised, exceeding the amount
needed to buy the 24 cabbage
trees from Trees for Canterbury.
Heathcote Ward city councillor
Sara Templeton and Mayor
Lianne Dalziel have both supported
the fundraiser.
Lewis, who lives in St Martins,
started the fundraiser via a
Givealittle page on May 13.
Lewis, a freelance journalist,
reported on the 2018 poisoning
when he was working for The
Press, calling it a “cold case cabbage
tree killing”. The offender
has not been found.
“I’ve always felt miffed that
someone had the audacity to
poison the cabbage trees and on
petty grounds,” said Lewis.
“They should be replaced,
protected and respected.”
The reason behind Lewis’ fundraiser
is his long-standing like
of cabbage trees. “I have worked
in Marlborough before, and
along the east coast the cabbage
trees stand out among the gold
of the tussocks and the rust of
the railways. They are beautiful
trees,” he said.
“They’re pioneering, they’re
rugged – I quite like them.”
Lewis said that unfortunately
many people dislike the trees due
to their habit of dropping tough
leaves that often then get tangled
up in lawnmowers.
Lewis has since bought the
trees and there will be a planting
day in June in collaboration with
the Christchurch Coastal Pathway
Group and any volunteers
who would like to help out.
Pathway group chairman of
the Hanno Sander said: “We’re
excited that Oli’s fundraising to
reinstate the trees has been so
successful, with broad support
from the community including
the mayor.
“We’re looking forward to a
working bee where we’ll plant
several hundred natives along
Beachville Rd and the cabbage
trees in their original locations.”
Lewis still hopes to solve the
mystery. Last week he dropped
100 leaflets around Mt Pleasant,
asking if anyone knew anything.
If you have any information
about the poisoning of the trees,
email Oliver on oli.lewis720@
gmail.com
ON THE CASE: Oliver Lewis has raised over $700 to
replace cabbage trees on the causeway that were
poisoned.
PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN
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