Queenstown Lakes District Council invites feedback on tree succession plan for Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens

The Queenstown community is being encouraged to plan for the future of Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens by giving feedback on a draft tree succession plan to help protect this popular community asset and ensure it remains a resilient and diverse environment for future generations to enjoy.

QLDC General Manager Community & Services, Ken Bailey said the draft plan sets out steps to manage ageing wilding pines in the Gardens over the next 60 years, and introduce a diverse range of native, suitable exotic, and deciduous trees and plants to the area.

Bailey advised “Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens is an unparalleled environment that locals and visitors love, whether it’s for a lunch break walk or run around the leafy surroundings, a game of disc golf with friends, or the simple enjoyment of exploring this spectacular space.

“However, approximately five hectares of wilding conifer trees sit within the Gardens, and as these trees near the end of their lives, we need to have a plan in place to ensure we protect the area while taking the opportunity to transition to a more sustainable and diverse shelterbelt.”

Wilding conifers in Queenstown Gardens play a crucial role in acting as a windbreak to shield the area from wild weather, but their invasive nature and advancing age pose several significant threats to the landscape’s long-term health.

The dense canopy of these trees blocks sunlight and reduces native flora and fauna, they drop needle litter that results in poor soil health, and their location on the peninsula near Queenstown creates a significant seed spread risk for a tree being battled with throughout the district.

Bailey added the draft Tree Succession Plan looks at removing these ageing wilding conifers in stages and across multiple zones, to ensure new plants introduced in the area have time to adapt to the windy environment.

“As we selectively thin and remove wilding trees in different parts of Queenstown Gardens, the succession plan includes steps to rapidly introduce new plants, trees, and organic matter, and to create a dense, fast-growing and ecologically resilient forest,” Bailey shared.

“Sadly, trees do not live forever, and as these wilding conifers in Queenstown Gardens are nearing the end of their lives, now is the perfect time to put a plan in place to protect this amazing area and ensure it flourishes for future generations to enjoy.

“I’d encourage regular users of Queenstown Gardens, residents in the area, and visitors to this stunning space to check out the draft plan, come chat to our staff about the approach at the community drop-in session, and to share their feedback.”

Pioneer species like grasses, ferns, and mānuka will be used to restore soil structure and support the growth of future planting, followed by native trees like kōwhai, beech, and southern rātā to provide additional wind shelter as quickly as possible while creating new wildlife habitat.

Carefully selected exotic species and deciduous trees that are tall, fast-growing, and non-invasive will also be planted to further protect the wider area from wind.

The draft Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens Tree Succession Plan, a range of supporting material and a feedback form are available online and in QLDC’s offices and library at 10 Gorge Road.

Feedback on the draft Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens Tree Succession Plan closes on Monday, 12th May.

Once feedback has been gathered and reviewed, the draft Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens Tree Succession Plan is expected to be presented to QLDC’s Community & Services Committee for adoption in August 2025.