Tree Council fully supports removal of Auckland's Ōwairaka/Mt Albert trees

Tuesday, 12 November 2019

Anna Radford from Honour the Maunga explains why protestors are blocking the removal of trees from Mt Albert/Ōwairaka. (Video first published November 2019.)

The Tree Council says it fully supports the felling of 345 exotic trees from Auckland's Ōwairaka/Mt Albert despite protests.

The Tūpuna Maunga Authority plans to remove the trees as part of its plan to restore native vegetation on the maunga.

It has been met with protest, with about 200 people turning up on Monday morning and vowing to stay there until they are promised the trees won't be chopped down.

The Tree Council says it fully supports the Tūpuna Maunga Authority plans to remove the trees to restore native vegetation on the maunga.

But the Tree Council said the removal would help restore indigenous native ecosystems on the slopes of the maunga and heal it.

**READ MORE:

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'The Tree Council has always recognised the positive role that large established trees can play in our environment whether they are exotic or native,' a spokesperson said.

Protesters say they won't move from Ōwairaka/Mt Albert until there's a promise the trees won't be cut down.

'However, the long-term outcomes of removing exotic and weed species and restoring the native ecology, not just on one maunga but between all of them, will be hugely positive for both Mt Albert residents and the whole of Auckland.'

The spokesperson said the first stage of restoring the maunga began in August.

About 2700 native shrubs were planted on the slopes with the goal of another 13,000 natives planted in the coming years.

'The second phase is the removal of approximately 345 exotic trees from Ōwairaka.

'This work was planned to commence this week under consents issued by Auckland Council.'

Despite protesters saying there wasn't adequate consultation, the Tree Council spokesperson said the public was notified in April 2016 and were asked to make submission on their views.

The plan would see non-native trees removed from 14 Auckland maunga. More than 100 exotic trees were removed from Ōhuiarangi/Pigeon Mountain in April and 150 trees were felled on Māngere Mountain in March, upsetting local residents.

'Over the last 12 months the Tūpuna Maunga Authority has been running regular public hui in relation to all aspects of their management of each of the maunga.

'These hui have provided an opportunity for any member of the public to raise their concerns about the Integrated Management Plan and for the authority to explain the rationale behind specific elements of that plan.'

The Tree Council said it understood this is a cultural issue as much as an ecological one.

'We acknowledge the very real concerns that people feel about seeing established trees being removed from a familiar landscape, but hopefully gaining a better understanding of the complete plans for restoring native vegetation and native ecology to the slopes of Ōwairaka, and the other maunga, and the reasoning behind those plans will allay some of those concerns.'