Tree group ‘appalled’ as Government knocks back protections

Monday, 15 December 2025

A debate over tree protections in Auckland has been cut off at the stump with a Government minister denouncing them as more unnecessary “red tape”.

The Post previously reported that Plan Change 113, which would have updated the notable tree register with 174 specimens, had caused a controversy in the supercity with property owners at loggerheads with a green lobby group over whether specimens on private land ought to be subjected to rigorous protections.

They were set to argue their respective cases at a hearing next year, but the process has now been cut short by RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop.

Bishop has put a freeze on plan changes in Auckland, requiring the council to make applications to him as minister for exemptions. In this case, the application was denied.

“I have taken this decision because the impacts of PC113 are inconsistent with the Government’s intentions for a resource management system with ‘less red tape’ that is premised on the enjoyment of property rights,” Bishop said in an official statement.

Having a notable tree on your property comes with restrictions, including requiring a resource consent and hiring a qualified arborist for any substantial trimming.

But Bishop’s decision has been met by condemnation and bitter disappointment from the Tree Council lobby group which nominated many of the specimens for protection.

Its spokesperson Mels Barton took to social media saying: “There is nothing guaranteed to piss me off more than throwing away a really important piece of work that I’ve spent years putting together.

“This government has got to go.”

But for Titirangi’s Jason Burgess, who opposed the protection of his neighbour’s Coast Redwood, it’s “a win”.

“Now I want to know where did all the money go and how much money was spent [on the plan change]?,” he said.

“I have real concerns about this city being in complete debt at the moment, and yet we’re willing to throw money at stupid things like this.”

For Auckland councillor Richard Hills the time and money spent on the plan change is exactly what makes the Government’s interference so galling.

“Three years of staff time, resources and ratepayer money has been spent,” he said.

“And we only have to go through this painful nomination process because the National Government in 2012 took away council’s right to protect trees.”

He said he was “pretty angry and disappointed” that “magnificent big trees” would now be at risk.

“I’ve never seen a government take so much control of local government.”

It means Remuera’s Michelle Cook will no longer be able to see her Bunya-bunya Pine protected from future development or neighbour interference.

“It’s not the outcome we were hoping for, especially after all the work of volunteers and council staff to progress this opportunity to protect trees for our future,” she said.

In a statement the Tree Council said it was “appalled”.

“Many of these trees were nominated by The Tree Council, requiring years of volunteer work across the city to find, assess and nominate them to Auckland Council.”

“The irony that this Government claims to be amending legislation to reduce red tape and regulatory costs while actually costing councils across the country hundreds of thousands of dollars in wasted or repeated work is not lost on us.”

The Tree Council said its nominations represented “the best of the best” and failing to protect them for future generations was “short-sighted and a dereliction of duty”.

“[The trees] will now be at huge risk of removal due to development pressures, as large trees take up space and space is valuable in our intensifying city.

“They can never be replaced.”