Storm damage and fallen trees in Hastings
If anyone is hurt or in danger, call 111. Stay at least 10 metres from a fallen line. Unison runs the lines in Hastings, so ring Unison. For storm damage, photograph it from a safe distance and call your insurer before any clean-up. Insurance generally covers damage a fallen tree does to the house, garage or fence and removing the parts that caused it, but not the rest of the tree.
Council tree rules in Hastings
Hastings District Council protects notable trees in its District Plan for their historic importance, scientific interest or botanical rarity. They're listed in two places: Outstanding Trees in appendix 52 and Significant Trees in appendix 53, and some are on private land.
Each listed tree has been assessed by an arborist using STEM, the Standard Tree Evaluation Method. The council's advice is to talk to a consents planner well ahead of any work on a listed tree, and that includes pruning, digging or building near it.
Trees after Cyclone Gabrielle
Cyclone Gabrielle hit Heretaunga Hastings hard in February 2023, with widespread flooding, landslides and damage to homes, roads, bridges and critical infrastructure. Across the region, fallen trees and downed lines were among the things that affected roads and bridges, and a Silt Recovery Taskforce has helped hundreds of locals clear silt.
Trees that stood in floodwater or had silt piled around the trunk can take a few seasons to show the damage, with thinning leaves, dieback or a lean that slowly gets worse. If that sounds like your tree, an arborist's look now beats a failure later.
Tree removal in Hastings: what's local
Sheltered, mostly
NIWA says Hawke's Bay is less windy than many coastal parts of the country, though gales are frequent in the exposed high country. A big tree on an exposed hill section needs more watching than one sheltered on the plains.
Frost and dry spells
The region gets a lot of frosts in the cooler months, rainfall that swings widely, and dry spells in most years. A tree stressed by drought one summer can show it the next, so watch big trees through a dry run.
Unison's network
Unison delivers power to Hastings, Napier, Taupō and Rotorua. It sends a First Cut or Trim Notice, or a Cut or Trim Notice, when a tree is too close to its lines, and ignoring one can bring a fine of up to $10,000 plus $500 a day.
Your own service line
Keeping trees off the private service line to your house is your job, and Unison won't send notices about it. You can ask Unison for a Safety Disconnection while someone trims near it, though conditions may apply.
Neighbours' trees in Hastings
The council points to the Property Law Act 2007: owners are responsible for any nuisance or damage their trees cause the neighbours, even if the trees were there before they bought. Start by going round and explaining the problem.
If it does end up in court, the person asking for a tree to be trimmed or removed will usually pay for the work, and has to prove the nuisance. Our neighbours' trees guide walks through it.
Hiring an arborist in Hastings
Check appendix 52 and appendix 53 before booking anything, and ring a council consents planner if the tree is listed or might be. If the tree went through the cyclone, ask the arborist to look at the roots and the base, not just the crown. Leave anything near the lines to Unison.