“A Mistake We Can All See”: Auckland Council Contractor Under Fire After Watering Tree During Severe Storm

By Lions Roar News Civic Watch Desk

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND (Thursday, January 22, 2026) — A video that has gone viral with nearly 1.5 million views on Facebook has sparked both laughter and outrage across New Zealand, showing an Auckland Council contractor diligently watering a tree in the middle of a torrential downpour.

The footage, filmed during the severe weather that recently battered the North Island, led to a formal council investigation and an admission that the act was a glaring operational error.

📱 The Video That Went Viral

The clip, which captured a worker holding a hose to a tree while floodwaters began to rise around them, was shared with a caption that resonated with thousands of confused Aucklanders: “We’re struggling to understand this. Could someone please explain it to us?”

As the North Island faced states of emergency, evacuations, and highway closures, the sight of a water truck being utilized in a storm became a symbol of perceived bureaucratic absurdity for many social media users.

🔍 The Investigation: “Clearly Not Good Practice”

Auckland Councillor Richard Hills took the lead in investigating the incident after being tagged in the footage by numerous concerned ratepayers. After consulting with council management, Hills provided a transparent breakdown of what occurred.

Management’s Admission: Council leadership confirmed that watering trees during heavy rainfall is “not good practice” and admitted a mistake had been made.
The “Fixed Fee” Reassurance: Hills reassured the public that because the company is on a fixed-fee contract to keep the trees alive, this specific incident did not result in any extra costs to ratepayers.
The Worker’s Perspective: “I am sure the staff member is embarrassed to have been plastered all over social media,” Hills noted, adding that all crews have now been formally reminded of storm procedures.

🌳 Why Do They Water Trees in the Rain?

While this specific case was a blunder, Hills explained that there is a scientific reason why contractors sometimes water during light summer rain:

Root Saturation: Light rain often fails to penetrate the deep root systems of newly planted trees.
Specialized Equipment: Some trees have pipes leading directly to the roots that require manual filling to ensure survival during dry spells, even if there is a drizzle.
The Error: In this instance, the rain was “heavy,” not light, making the manual watering completely unnecessary.

📊 Storm Response vs. Routine Maintenance

Activity	Standard Procedure	The Incident (Jan 2026)
Light Summer Rain	Manual watering may still occur.	N/A
Severe Storm/Heavy Rain	Inspect & record condition only.	Contractor used hose to water.
Cost to Ratepayer	Part of fixed annual maintenance fee.	No extra cost incurred.
Outcome	Tree survival ensured.	Viral video & staff reprimand.