Huge success today in protecting the macrocarpa at corner Great Nth Rd and Ash St.
We need you again tomorrow.
A crane is in position & chainsaws likely. Please come stand with us in peaceful protest from 6:30am.
Dress for rainy weather. Mana rākau!
Category: Blog updates
The following letter has been sent to Auckland Council from The Tree Council on 16 December 2020 (see original Facebook post here):
TREE OWNER APPROVAL RE 1817 GREAT NORTH ROAD MACROCARPA
Thank you for the opportunity to present the views of The Tree Council regarding the proposed removal of the scheduled macrocarpa tree at 1817 Great North Road, Avondale. Our views are as follows:
1. We oppose the removal of this scheduled notable tree.
2. We oppose the decision being made non-notified and request public notification of the consent application and a full public process.
3. We dispute the non-notification decision based on the lack of effect on visual amenity & table our independent Visual Assessment Report as evidence (attached).
4. We dispute the suggestion that the tree is in poor health / decline based on the Greenscene Arboricultural Report that you commissioned (attached).
5. We support the decision of the Regional Arborists and Ecological Department to refuse permission to remove the tree because removal is not justified under the RMA or Auckland Unitary Plan and the “evidence” used to support the removal is flawed.
6. We question why the decision regarding removal of this tree is being removed from your department, despite you having delegated authority to take it, and wish to know what the delegated authority of the Whau Local Board is to make any decision regarding this tree as it is located 60% on road reserve (owned by Auckland Transport) and not in a local park? We note that the Local Board only manages local park land and not road reserve.
7. We question the qualifications of the Whau Local Board members to make any decision regarding an RMA / Unitary Plan matter as they are not qualified independent commissioners, planners, arborists or landscape architects and have no relevant experience in adjudicating on such matters. We consider that the Local Board is being set up to take the blame for decisions made by Panuku and a private developer behind closed doors.
8. We ask why the private developer has already pre-sold 40 apartments in the development for this site based on a design that assumes that this scheduled notable tree will be removed, despite not having obtained consent for the removal?
9. We request that representatives of The Tree Council and mana whenua are present at any discussion and decision making meeting of the Whau Local Board regarding this tree. We would like to request speaking rights at any such meeting to address the Local Board on this issue.
10. We request that any such meeting be open to the public and advertised so that interested members of the local community, whom the Whau Local Board purports to represent, can be present.
11. We will be taking legal advice regarding the process being followed by Council regarding the proposed destruction of this scheduled notable tree, which is a public heritage item in the Auckland Unitary Plan.
12. We will be releasing this letter to the media.We would appreciate an urgent response by email from the Whau Local Board Chair regarding our attendance at any meeting planned to discuss this issue.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Ngā mihi maioha
Dr Mels Barton
Secretary, The Tree Council
Categories
HĪKOI TOMORROW
AGENDA FOR THURSDAY, 15 OCTOBER
- 6:00 AM – Meet at 52-58 Canal Road
- Karakia – Matua Rihari
- Safety Briefing
- 6:30 AM – Depart Canal Road
- ~7:30 AM – Western Springs Park – Corner of Great North and Motions Roads
- ~8:30 AM – Corner Great North Road and Sussex Street
- 9:30 AM – Arrive at Auckland Town Hall
- 10:00 AM – Auckland Council Parks Committee meeting
~These times are approximate.
Categories
MANA RĀKAU HĪKOI
Thursday 15 October 2020 – 6am for 6:30 departure.
Join us to mark the 100th day of our peaceful tree-sitting at Burgess, Raymond, Lee Community Ngahere in Whau/Avondale.
Save Canal Road Native Trees will hīkoi from the stand of 100 year old native trees to the Auckland Town Hall and again call on Mayor Goff and the Auckland Council to acquire the land for a public reserve and native tree arboretum for generations to come.
The Hīkoi will begin at 6am from 56 Canal Road, Avondale. We will depart at 6:30 sharp and peacefully walk into the Auckland Town Hall in time for the 10am meeting of the Auckland City Council.
We would love to have you there from the start but you may join in at any time along the route and we will need people to stay on site at Canal Rd.
Stay tuned for more updates in the coming days.
Categories
Day 86
Another stunning success. A short-notice rally was called today at 11:30am. The turnout was a testament to our support base – that can only grow from here.
People turned out in #protecturbanngahere and #savecanalroadnativetrees shirts and a new part of this movement was unveiled when the #manarākau tohu (sign) was rolled out and held high in front of town hall.
Manarākau’s purpose is to address the current lack of tree protection laws which are causing devastating impact on urban forest throughout Tāmaki Makaurau and Aotearoa.
Members of the council came down and received a petition from a rōpū (group) representing #savecanalroadnativetrees #manarākau and close to 9000 signatories.
Categories
Day 81
At dawn this morning, approximately 60 people gathered for a special community event.
Today we pay homage to the kaitiaki past and present of 52-58 Canal Road, now named BURGESS, RAYMOND, LEE COMMUNITY NGAHERE.
Ashes sent from the ahikā of Ihumātao were scattered in the ahi here on site, to symbolise unity and solidarity to @savecanalroadnativetrees and to protect urban ngahere. Ngā mihi @protectihumatao.
A special thank you to the Burgess whānau, and also to Daniel Raymond for your well wishes.
The community is united and determined more than ever to ensure these tūpuna rākau remain standing.
@philbgoff @aklcouncil your invitation still stands, nau mai haere mai.
#savecanalroadnativetrees
#bringbacktreeprotection
#protecturbanngahere
Categories
Day 79
Day 79 and our ancient native rākau remain protected and tūī sing above us as we write this.
Thank you all so much for your time, donations and support, it truly keeps us going and in high spirits to know that a lot of Aotearoa also want tree protection.
We’re still waiting for @philbgoff to come down and see this magical site for himself and hear the birdsong. Nau mai Phil.
We always need more support on the ground so sign up! If you can’t come along, you can donate here and sign our petition.
#savecanalroadnativetrees
#bringbacktreeprotection
#mayorgoffsaveourtrees
Categories
Aukati – Rāhui
On Sunday 6 September, an Aukati – Rāhui was placed on 52-58 Canal Road, Avondale by kaumatua Rihari Nahi of Ngāti Whātua.
This type of Rāhui was enabled in order to stop all people who intend to do harm on site and have the trees felled. This site is tapu.
Nothing on site is to be tampered with or removed and unless you are actively involved in this kaupapa – please stay off the site at all times.
Respect the Aukati – Rāhui.
Please take the time to read the full explanation in the images attached.
Mauri ora, Tangata kaitiaki of Save Canal Road Native Trees @ Avondale, New Zealand
Categories
Day 72
Meet tree protector Ben.
He’s keen to see these beautiful old native trees saved for his generation and future ones to come.
Yesterday we were visited by a Kererū which was truly magical. How often do you see a Kererū in Avondale? If these trees are felled, where will our native birds go?
@aklcouncil please listen to Ben’s plea to protect this urban ngahere and save our trees. Phil Goff, you cannot continue to ignore the community.
Send us a short video like Ben’s so we can share them and send them on to Phil Goffs office so he can come down and see the site for himself and educate himself on why we need to protect these urban green spaces in Tāmaki Makaurau.
#savecanalroadnativetrees
#bringbacktreeprotection
#mayorgoffsaveourtrees
Ihumātao stands with tree protectors at Save Canal Road Native Trees and support the call on Mayor Phil Goff and Auckland Council to come down to the site to kōrero about keeping these taonga rākau standing for the community, the native wildlife and for the environment and climate of Tāmaki Makaurau
Video:Jos Wheeler
#savecanalroadnativetrees
#protecturbanngahere
#mayorgoffsaveourtrees
#protectihumātao