Auckland tree protest: Canal Rd natives poisoned in overnight ‘attack’, campaigners say

Eighteen natives trees at the site of a protest against their removal in West Auckland have been poisoned, according to protesters, Stuff reports. The Mana Rakaū – Save Canal Road Native Trees group, has been occupying privately owned land on Canal Rd, in Avondale, since July 2020. They moved in after learning some of the 100-year-old native trees would be cut down to make way for housing. Mana Rakaū claimed a man entered the site around midnight and “drilled poison” into 18 trees, including a rare kawaka, matai, totara, tawa and puriri tree.