Veteran activist scales tree in protest at felling on Auckland site

Saturday, 11 July 2020

Protester Steve Abel scaled a tree in Auckland's Avondale to stop more native trees from being cut down by developers.

A veteran activist, who scaled a tree in protest of the felling of more than 40 native trees by developers at an Auckland site, has been issued a trespass notice by police.

Steve Abel, an environmental activist turned Green Party candidate, joined the fight to save further native trees from being cut down at a private property on Canal Rd in Avondale, West Auckland.

Abel stood by the side of the road and protested with several others on Thursday but on Friday, he took it one step further and scaled one of only a few native trees that were left standing on the property.

Steve Abel was handed a trespass notice by police after he got down from the tree.

The site has been a topic of ongoing discussion between Auckland Council and the Tree Council and residents, who have tried for years to save the green space.

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William Lee, left, with other residents and protesters outside the site on Canal Street in Avondale.

Developers moved onto the property, vacant for many years, on Thursday to cut down more than 40 native trees that have been on the site for 80 years.

On Friday, after Abel scaled the tree, police moved in and following discussions with two officers and a landowner representative, he came down, shortly after midday.

“There won’t be any more trees cut down today, it is on those grounds that I came down,” Abel said.

He said he wanted to help in the fight to save a valuable asset in the community.

“The community, the people that live here, don’t want to see it cut down. They shouldn't be cut down.

“We’ve lost a third of urban ngahere here in Auckland and this sort of destruction of big, old trees has to stop and it takes the community to stand and say no for it stop.”

Tree Council’s Mels Barton said the whole issue was farcical and a disgrace, especially after they gave the council several recommendations, including the purchase of the land, to try and save the trees.

She said the felling of native trees was not part of the initial sale agreement but agreed that the provisions to cut down trees without consent in the Resource Management Act could not save them.

“I am absolutely gutted and devastated. I believe Auckland Council have let the people of Avondale down,” Barton said.

“Avondale once again loses yet another piece of natural heritage.”

A council spokesperson said it didn’t have any plans to purchase the property.

Trees were an integral part of Auckland’s nature heritage and environment and there were set rules for developers to follow, as well as protection measures in place for individual scheduled or Significant Ecological Areas (SEA), the spokesperson said.

“Canal Reserve, located at 14 to 18 Canal Road, already serves the community’s needs for open space in this local area.”

Resident William Lee said cutting the trees down would be a “huge loss to the community”.

“Legally, they are allowed to cut them down but these are almost-100-year-old native trees – surely something can be done to save them?”