Murray's Holden an Accidental Rangiora Landmark

A rusted Holden parked in a Rangiora paddock has had a sycamore grow through the roof, and the neighbour across the fence reckons it now qualifies as native bush.

The car, registration OC7989, has been sitting in the same spot off Lehmans Road since somewhere between the February quake and the day the warrant expired. The tree is now taller than the car.

"It's a piss-take, eh!" said Lorraine Petherick, 61, who's lived next door for twenty-two years. "He said he'd shift it next weekend. That was 2013! The tree's got rings, Sharon. RINGS!"

The car's owner, Murray Cuthbert, told The Daily Yarn the Holden was "going to be a project" and the tree was "adding a bit of shade". Asked if he'd shift either, Murray said the tree had "earned its spot" and the warrant was "only a bit expired". The warrant expired in 2008.

A Waimakariri District Council spokesperson said the matter was "being looked into" but conceded that abandoned vehicles with root systems were "a grey area" and might require eighteen months and a rake. The local constable declined to tow it on the grounds that "it's structural now".

Lorraine has started calling the car "the installation" down at Good Brew, where barista Tane (makes a cracking flat white!!) says she brings it up every second oat milk. The sycamore is in bud.