September 08, 2020
COVID and kauri rule breaking irks mayor
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says the first prosecution for breaching kauri dieback regulations should send a warning about the importance of the kaupapa.
Robert Armistead is on trial at Waitakere District Court on three charges of breaching a bylaw closing off tracks in the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park.
Mr Goff says it’s disappointing the alleged offender was a local.
"We've got people that are out there protesting for the right to catch COVID-19 by not following safe measures to stop community transmission and there are people who say 'we don't actally care about future generations being able to enjoy our iconic kauri forests, we'll just do it anyway because that's what we want to do and to hell with everybody else". he says.
Phil Goff says the tracks are monitored with surveillance equipment and repeat offenders will be prosecuted.
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