December 10, 2019
Tough question for Owairaka privet protectors
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff is disappointed the row over removal of pest trees on Ōwairaka/Mt Albert is going to the High Court.
The Tupuna Maunga Authority, which includes mana whenua, Auckland Council and crown representatives, if facing a judicial review of its decision to remove 345 non-native trees so the mountain can be replanted.
Mr Goff believes there could still be common ground to be found, and the Honour the Maunga protesters should have taken the chance to engage with the authority when it held a hui on the mountain.
The authority and the mountains owners seem confident they will prevail in court.
"One of the questions I guess of those who are seeking judicial review is did they participate in the opportunities they had on the Maunga Authority management plan? Maybe that's an unfair question. Maybe people don't notice these things are happening. But the court avenues are there and if the court avenues are there people will use them," he says.
Mayor Goff says the court action means it’s unlikely a start can be made on removing the trees this summer.
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