Forest & Bird uncovers destruction of protected pohutukawa on North Shore

7 May 2016

Forest & Bird’s North Shore branch has discovered a large swathe of Auckland’s protected coastal pohutukawa has been devastated at a Takapuna development site.

The area on the clifftop south of Takapuna beach was once largely covered in mature pohutukawa that are identified for protection as a Significant Ecological Area (SEA). This area has now been stripped of important vegetation, presumably to improve ocean views. The destruction is clearly visible from the coast at low tide.

“This destruction of protected native trees is unacceptable. Insufficient protection, and piecemeal rule enforcement is allowing New Zealand’s wildlife to be silently whittled away by private interests,” says Forest & Bird Regional Manager Nick Beveridge.

“Destruction of native habitat on private land is a major problem in New Zealand. This particular situation illustrates a much bigger environmental problem that often goes unseen because it’s happening inside property boundaries. Many native wildlife and plant species are now completely lost from whole landscapes such as Takapuna, which is why there are rules for protecting what is left. We need our councils to monitor consented activities, and take a strong stance when the law is broken. Otherwise we’ll soon find our urban wildlife has entirely disappeared.”

Auckland Council documents show that the removal of the Takapuna trees happened over several years, with the most recent removals occurring in March this year.

“Mature native trees have long been protected in Auckland, with special attention being paid to coastal pohutukawa forest through the Coastal Conservation Zone and the more recent Significant Ecological Areas (SEA) under the Proposed Unitary Plan,” says Mr Beveridge.

“These remaining areas of forest are habitat for a large variety of birdlife including kingfisher, kereru, tui, and white faced heron. A sad irony is that these trees and the coastal ecosystem they formed were a natural buffer between land and sea - protecting the property in question from ocean storms and coastal erosion.”

“Forest & Bird’s local branch demand that the people responsible be made to reinstate the forest by planting the largest trees possible and be penalised for their actions.

“Only by having a strong response from Auckland Council and significant deterrents will New Zealand be able to protect these important areas,” says North Shore Forest & Bird Deputy Chair Claire Stevens.

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