Activists scale Avondale trees to protect them from the axe
Hi neighbours,
Activists have climbed up native trees in Auckland's Avondale to stop developers from cutting them down.
Green Party candidate Steve Abel said only 23 of the 46 trees that originally stood at the site on Canal Road remain.
"They [the activists] don't intend to move," he told The AM Show on Tuesday. "They intend to stay there so the trees can't be cut down. The community will continue to resist. We're going to save these trees - we have to. We can't afford to let them be lost."
Abel was banned from the site after scaling one of the trees in July.
Blanket protection of trees in Auckland was removed in 2012 by the National government.
Auckland Council says only one tree in the reserve - a pohutakawa - is protected. It proposed a land exchange - taking ownership of the land the trees sat on, and offering the developer a nearby unused reserve - but this offer was rejected.
The previous owners of the site, the Raymond family, said the developer made removal of the trees a condition of the sale.
More than 7000 people have signed a petition calling for the council to buy the land.
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Illuminate Market 2026 is coming soon!
Hosted by Recreate NZ, Illuminate Market is a true celebration of possibility, showcasing the incredible strengths and talents of young people. A space where empowered inclusion comes to life, and the richness of diverse minds is recognised and celebrated. Illuminate Market is the vibrant, socially inclusive world we all want to see.
Bring your whānau and friends along to this joyful community event featuring market stalls, delicious kai, creative workshops, live performances and fun activities for the whole family. Free entry, all welcome!
Saturday 28th March 2026 | 4pm - 8pm
Mt Albert War Memorial Hall & Reserve, 773 New North Road, Mt Albert, Auckland
Illuminate Market is made possible with funding support from Spectrum Foundation and Albert-Eden Local Board.
Follow Recreate NZ on Facebook & Instagram for the latest event updates or visit www.recreate.org.nz....
🧩😏 Riddle me this, Neighbours…
I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?
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