Native tree protest continues as police are unable to get man down from karaka

Tuesday, 25 August 2020

Protester Steve Abel was nearly crushed by a falling tree as he occupied a nearby tree in protest of a development. (Video first published on July 21, 2020.)

Two people have been arrested from a private property during a protest against the removal of native trees, but one person remains free after police were unable to get them down.

Early on Tuesday morning, contractors arrived at Canal Rd in Avondale, West Auckland, to put up fences around the property. One person scaled a karaka tree while contractors extended the fence and placed black material onto it so people could not see in.

Another protester entered the site and took up position on an already toppled tree.

Police lead one man away from the scene of the protest on Canal Rd.

Just before noon around six police vehicles and one fire truck showed up to the scene to attempt to remove the protesters.

Police first took the ladder away from the bottom of the tree before replacing it with a bigger one

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One protester came peacefully out from a tree.

Police entered the fence line and could be heard asking protesters to make their way down otherwise they would be arrested for trespassing.

One of the protesters in a tree was arrested, as was a protester outside the fence line, but police were unable to get the man up the karaka tree down.

Police tried to talk the protester into coming down from the tree

After half an hour of trying to persuade the protester, police left the scene.

Veteran protester Steve Abel, who last month was almost hit by one of the trees as it fell down, said the plan was to hold off the chainsaws as long as they can.

“We will continue to do everything we can to protect these trees… it’s irreplaceable, there is nothing like it in central Auckland”.

People have been gathering at the site every day since developers moved in on July 10, protesting the felling of more than 40 native trees.

A police spokesperson said they were aware of a protest at a private property on Canal Road that had started around 9:30am.

“Early this afternoon two people, a man and woman, were arrested at the site. Police recognise the lawful right to protest and our priority to ensure the safety of all.”

They said the protest was part of ongoing action and police were continuing to monitor it.

In July Mayor Phil Goff told Stuff his team was working hard to reverse amendments made to the Resource Management Act in 2012 that allowed for trees to be cut down on private properties without consent.

“There are groups of trees like this all over our city that have no protection. We need to reverse the amendments [made] in 2012 and the best way to protect these trees is to get change in the legislation to get group protection.”

Auckland Council’s Environment Committee said it would explore this legally first and told protesters it did not want to offer any false hope that it could be possible.