The land where eight Pōhutukawa were vandalised on the Taputapuatea Spit in Whitianga.

Eight pōhutukawa cut down by vandals in a public reserve were part of an ongoing restoration project.

The trees, which were on Taputapuatea Spit in Whitianga, were planted in the 1990s.

The restoration project had been in action on the Taputapuatea Spit since 2015, Mercury Bay Forest and Bird branch chairperson Augusta Macassey-Pickard said.

JAKE MCKEE CAGNEY/STUFF Sally Cruickshank thinks it is sad to see any tree killed.

Last month, Thames-Coromandel District Council erected signs their place that read: "This sign replaces a tree intentionally destroyed by selfish vandals".

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According to the council, there have been other cases over the years where trees were poisoned or vandalised because they blocked somebody's view.

TCDC Mercury Bay Community Board members with signage going in place of vandalised trees.

Macassey-Pickard said Forest and Bird had been working with nearby property owners and the council to have the pōhutukawa crown lifted. She explained crown lifting would have removed all of the bushy branches down low and could protect a properties view.

"That was done at the Council's expense ... so we were quite shocked at the level of vandalism."

She questioned whether vandalising the trees bettered the view.

"You just get an eroding coastline if you do that.

"I think a coastal view in New Zealand incorporates the pōhutukawa's. I think they frame those views for us."

She advised people to check in with the person cutting a tree down if they were unsure, or check in with the Council to see if they had any contractor's out.

Whitianga local Sally Cruickshank had seen many trees cut down in her time. She thought it was being done by "ignorant" people to better their property's view but not caring about the environment or future of the foreshore.

"I believe the majority of people in town, and on the waterfront, are very sad to see anyone destroying any tree."

She said she couldn't understand why anyone would want to ruin a native tree. Even with a norfolk pine which was vandalised nearby, "it's sad to see anything killed".

Cruickshank commended council action of planting grasses and tree along the foreshore to prevent erosion.

In 2007, TCDC was successful in bringing a $70,000 fine against a landowner who removed trees on a reserve for view purposes. They are also looking into replanting in the future.