A few Cherry tree removals planned in Palmerston North

Published on 17 March 2026

The large Cherry Awanui tree outside Focal Point Cinema on Cuba Street will be removed later this week after being diagnosed with bacterial canker, a serious disease that affects cherry and other stone fruit trees.

We know this tree is enjoyed by many people in the area, especially when it’s in blossom, which is why we wanted to let the community know about the removal.

Bacterial canker causes branches to die and damages the trunk and limbs of a tree. Over time, it can weaken the tree and may eventually kill it.

If the infected tree is left in place, the disease could spread to nearby trees through rain, wind, insects, or contaminated tools. Removing it now will help protect other healthy trees in the area.

Three Cherry Awanui trees in the Victoria Esplanade that have also been diagnosed with bacterial canker will be removed as well to prevent the disease spreading further.

The work is scheduled for later this week and may require a very short temporary footpath closure outside Focal Point Cinema while the Cuba Street tree is safely removed. The work will be completed quickly to minimise disruption in the busy Cuba Street area.

We regularly inspect all Council trees across the city. Now that bacterial canker has been identified, we will be checking our cherry trees more often.

No decisions have been made yet about replacing the removed trees as our priority right now is to remove the diseased trees as soon as possible. We’ll seek advice on when it would be safe to replant trees in these locations.