Mt Albert tree protest: Occupation hits one month mark as fellers face judicial review

Wednesday, 11 December 2019

The Tūpuna Maunga Authority held a peaceful hui at Mt Albert / Ōwairaka to hear the woes of the protestors who are concerned about trees being cut down on the mountain. (Video first published in November 2019.)

Protesters occupying Ōwairaka/Mt Albert will celebrate a 'double banger' on Wednesday, Honour the Maunga spokeswoman Anna Radford says.

The group will have guarded the Auckland mountain's gate 24 hours a day for exactly a month. They have been barring entrance to an Auckland Council-approved tree felling operation which aimed to chop down 345 exotic trees between November 11 and mid December.

The milestone would coincide with an application being filed for judicial review of the Tūpuna Maunga Authority's (TMA) decision to remove the trees, Radford said.

An Auckland Council approved plan to chop down hundred-year-old oaks, a grove of olives, and many other non-native trees on Ōwairaka/Mt Albert inspired an urgent protest movement.

Auckland's 14 volcanic mountains are co-governed by the council and TMA on behalf of Auckland iwi as part of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement.

Protesters have occupied Ōwairaka/Mt Albert 24 hours a day since 11 November.

* Mt Albert tree removal: Felling would be 'cruel' to nesting birds, experts say

* Saving Ōwairaka/Mt Albert's trees: becoming an activist at almost 100 years old

* Nature lovers angry after mass tree removal at local park

* For the greater good I'm happy to say goodbye to Mount Albert's trees**

Bright ribbons have been tied around many of the 345 non-native trees the Tūpuna Maunga Authority plan to cut down.

Radford said the legal update was 'a huge relief', but occupiers would remain on the mountain 'just in case'.

'We'll be there until we get written assurance from the TMA that there'll be no felling or preparation for felling until the review's been completed.'

A judicial review is an appeal to the High Court to assess decisions made by any statutory authority.

Radford said she understood the review was scheduled for March 20 next year.

She said it was not a member of Honour the Maunga who had filed the application.

The TMA's chaiman Paul Majurey confirmed he was aware 'private individuals' had filed the application. He would not confirm whether an injunction had also been filed, or if the TMA would hold off on felling until the review had taken place.

Felling close to half Ōwairaka/Mt Albert's canopy – including 131 cherries, century-old oaks, and an olive grove – is part of the TMA's broader vision to have all Auckland mountains eventually free of exotic trees. It's a vision backed by the Tree Council and Forest and Bird.

The TMA plans to plant 13,000 native trees on Ōwairaka/Mt Albert over the next few years.

The protesters have said they support the TMA's planting goals but oppose the removal of hundreds of non-natives over a one month period.

They said the TMA's community consultation process was flawed and that established trees – exotic or native – should be felled only when sick or dangerous.

On Wednesday evening Honour the Maunga would mark its one-month anniversary with 'cake, happiness, and the trees', Radford said.

'The trees aren't safe yet, but this month has been an incredible journey for our community.'