While pohutukawas can lessen erosion when growing at water level, they can enhance erosion when they are on cliffs. You do not need a degree to see wherever pohutukawas are growing on cliffs around our harbour there is severe erosion occurring. Their root system puts down a sheet of fine roots that blow off large slabs of cliff face. This is very evident even with a quick inspection. If you do not want to get your feet wet around the harbour edge, in places like Maungatapu, then check out the cliffs on the roadside in Matata.
I find it then astounding to see the council have planted Pohutukawas on the cliff edge reserve east of the Maungatapu Bridge right where they have signs saying 'Danger – slip area.” This will cause the disappearance of this land over the next 50 years and the deposition of thousands of tons of silt into the harbour with all its ill effects. Could this be book learning exceeding commonsense observation?

Kevin Reiher, Welcome Bay.