Western Springs pines: Human rights lawyer Deborah Manning fails in bid to save trees

Tuesday, 21 January 2020

Aerial view of WEstern Springs Forest before the felling of 200 mature pines (video first published in February 2020).

The efforts of a prominent human rights lawyer haven't been enough to save an ageing pine forest from the axe.

Auckland Council spokesman Sam Pohiva confirmed a resource consent has been granted to remove 200 pine trees from the suburb of Western Springs.

'The appeal against the resource consent decision to cut the Western Springs pines down was settled during mediation in the Environment Court,' he said.

Human rights lawyer Deborah Manning opposes felling the pines and says she is 'disappointed' in the process.

'At present the estimated date of removal is March to May 2020. Auckland Council is yet to enter into a contract for the removal of the trees.'

**READ MORE:

Deborah Manning is a prominent human rights lawyer best known for representing Algerian refugee Ahmed Zaoui in a landmark case.

* Human rights lawyer Deborah Manning leads fight over Western Springs pines

* Native forest planned to replace pine trees in Auckland park

* Afghan villagers taking legal action against 'Hit & Run' inquiry**

The issue first arose in 2015, when the council determined the pines in Western Springs were past their life expectancy, declining rapidly and posed a risk to public safety.

Auckland Council wants to remove the ageing pines because they have a history of toppling and pose a safety risk.

Human rights lawyer Deborah Manning opposed felling the trees and the case went to mediation in July 2019.

Manning, who is known for her work on the case of Algerian refugee Ahmed Zaoui and the Hit and Run inquiry, said she was 'disappointed' in the process.

'The council has such big pockets so essentially the community is ground down in the mediation process due to the disparity in resources,' she said.

'The amount of money that they have spent in the Environment Court made it just impossible for the community to keep up. The process does not allow for equality in presenting cases.'

A spokesperson for Auckland Council said the matter was subject to a confidential settlement agreement, 'so we do not intend to comment further'.

Manning wanted the forest managed by a tree by tree assessment, which would involve removing only the trees deemed at risk of falling.

This is to avoid damage to the native flora and fauna in the understory of the forest.

Auckland Council plans to plant 10,000 native trees in the place of the pines.

Itsaid damage to the understory will be minimal.