Council holds ground in kauri dispute

The Greens are blaming the impending removal of a 500-year-old kauri tree in Titirangi on the Government's changes to the Resource Management Act and the Auckland super city structure.

Yesterday morning protester Michael Travaresclimbed the tree, which is healthy and free of the endemic kauri dieback disease, and is yet to come down. He has vowed to stay put in order to save it.

The council has given developers a green light to fell the kauri, along with a 300-year-old rimu, to build two new houses, but their decision has so far met with angry resistance.

There are only around 200 kauri left in the area around the suburb of Titirangi, many with dieback disease, and locals are outraged that such a healthy specimen has been scheduled for removal in the to make way for new houses.

"Kauris are dying, there is no cure for kauri dieback, we are scrubbing our feet, but that's only holding it, there is no cure so why are council allowing healthy kauris to be taken?" asks Winnie Charlesworth, who lives next door to the property where the protest is taking place.

Green Party environmental spokesperson Julie Anne Genter says before the super city was implemented, the former Waitakere City Council had a blanket protection on native trees. Now, each tree has to be individually listed.

"Obviously it's not in the interests of this particular developer to apply for the tree to be scheduled so it never was," she said on Firstline this morning.

"The council has to apply the rules of the plan and follow the Act they've decided on balance to let the developer make a few more bucks because ultimately, that's the direction National's taken environmental protection. They've said we can reduce environmental protection so some developers can make a little more money."

Ms Genter says Mayor Len Brown would "certainly not" approve of the tree's removal, but his hands are tied by the law.

"That's the reality of the super city as well our elected representatives on council don't really have a say in minor resource consent decisions like this."

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Council holds ground in kauri dispute