Auckland Council taken to court over tree protection rules putting almost 600 at risk

Tree advocates are taking Auckland Council to court over its decision not to expand its schedule of protected trees over the past decade, leaving nearly 600 at risk, Stuff reveals. “It is outrageous that Auckland Council cares so little about the remaining trees worthy of being scheduled as notable,” said San Freeman, chairperson of the Tree Council. Auckland Council had scheduled no trees for protection since the completion of its Unitary Plan in 2016. “We are in a climate emergency and mature trees are the best carbon store we have and yet Auckland Council has not resourced this work and apparently has no intention of doing so,” said Freeman.