There's a public meeting in Te Puke on Tuesday evening about the planting of puriri trees in Te Puke.
The large natives adoring the centre island of Te Puke's main street were planted to commemorate the men from the Te Puke district who died in the First World War.

Puriri trees are up for debate in Te Puke.

Te Puke resident Don Paterson wants to plant more puriri trees to come through if the big ones die off.
InRoads has told The Western Bay of Plenty District Council it doesn't want more puriri trees planted on the main street, but a town centre redevelopment plan has recommended more puriri.
Don says it's not InRoads' problem because a state highway bypass will be in action when the eastern arterial highway is opened in a few years, and InRoads is only responsible for state highways.
'I remember driving through Te Puke's main street when I was a child and loving it because of the trees. They have such dark foliage – they're beautiful trees.”
'There is scope for more to be planted so there will still be puriri there. If we don't plant them now we may not have them in 50 years time.”
Distinguishing features of towns can leave a life long impression, says Don. Every other town has got something unique, and the puriri trees are Te Puke's.
'There's a lot of love for those trees from a lot of people round here.”
Other people who will be at the meeting include community board deputy chairman Peter Miller and Cedric Blaymires.
The public meeting is being held at the Te Puke Citizens' Club on Tuesday at 5.30pm to discuss planting puriri trees in Te Puke.