Petition started to protect Tairua pohutukawa 12 May, 2021 09:02 PM 3 minutes to read In February 2020 residents of Tairua rallied to ensure a pohutukawa tree did not get the chop. Photo / HC Post In February 2020 residents of Tairua rallied to ensure a pohutukawa tree did not get the chop. Photo / HC Post Bay of Plenty Times By: Alison Smith A social media campaign and the voices of tangata whenua have joined to put a halt to any cutting of a culturally significant pohutukawa tree. Lyn Dallison has started a petition to prevent the mature Tairua tree that's deemed as historically significant, and known as Tangimanawa, from being cut to allow for a footpath extension.