blossom loss perplexing

Landscape architect Di Lucas said the processes followed had created "a major issue". Plants were in some cases not suited to their location and there was no irrigation, leading to the deaths, she said.

"There was some really good initial design and then sadly the execution was dumbed down through Government processes," she said. "Some of it has been unbelievably stupid."

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/STUFF Dead and dying hebes in the east frame.

Paul Michael, who owns specialised nursery Fern Factor, said some poor decisions about what, when and how to plant were made by "bean counters who know nothing about plants".

Some of the work was rushed, rather than having the right plants grown to order and put into properly prepared and irrigated sites at the right time of year, hesaid.

"It's like they are buying a lump of concrete or something off the shelf. But they're not. These are living, breathing plants.

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/STUFF Contractors are about to start to replacing dead plants.

"They put the plants in the ground like a box ticking exercise. It's penny pinching. Now they have to replant and it's false economy.

An Ōtākaro spokesman said the deaths in Rauora Park were expected because of the large number of new plants. Some had died and others had been vandalised, he said.

"As it is now the planting season, the contractor will begin replacing these plants later this month."

JOSEPH JOHNSON/STUFF The east frame is in the city blocks between Manchester, Madras, Armagh and Lichfield streets.

The replacement planting work was paid for as part of contractor City Care's construction