‘Save Our Kauri’ tree-top protester sentenced in court tomorrow

Date: 01/03/2016

Tree-top protester Johno Smith will appear before the Waitakere District Court tomorrow morning. He is due to be sentenced following a charge of wilful trespass.

In December last year Smith spent thirteen days occupying the canopy of the controversial Paturoa Road Kauri tree in Titirangi.

Smith occupied the Kauri after property developers John Lenihan and Jane Greensmith sent contractors to fell the tree despite earlier in the year promising that the tree could stay.

He only came down from his tree-top camp after an early morning ringbark attack to the base of the tree.

“Tomorrow morning I’ll be sentenced in court but regardless of what the outcome is, I’m proud of my actions and I’ll keep standing up for our urban forests,” said Mr Smith.

“Trees are coming down in communities all over the country because the Government’s watered down laws that should protect them.

“Last week approval was given for Auckland Transport to remove 1500 square metres of native bush in South Auckland. Graham’s Bush will be destroyed despite the landowners wish to preserve the area.

“Thankfully the Titirangi Kauri is still protected by a High Court order while a judicial review of the resource consent is underway.

“The review was recently extended meaning a few more months protection for the Kauri but this protection is only temporary. We need laws that preserve our trees for the well being of our future generations.

“I want to ensure a future where our children can still go outside and play in trees,” Mr Smith said.

ENDS.

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