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The Tūpuna Maunga Authority’s plan to clear Owairaka-Mount Albert of non-native trees has been blocked for now by neighbouring residents.
Neighbours and supporters were on the access road from 6am to stop contractors clearing 345 trees including monkey apples, olives and elms.
Honour the Maunga organiser Anna Radford says they intend to stay until the authority, which includes mana whenua iwi and Auckland Council, reconsiders the plan.
The authority says the trees will be replaced with 13,000 native plants over the next few years, with 2700 shrubs already planted in August.
But opponents says the removal of established trees will displace birds, insects and other biota, and they want to see the transition to natives spread over 20 years.
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