Auckland Council is prosecuting an 'entitled' bushwalker after they continued to use tracks in the Waitākere Ranges that had been closed to stop the spread of kauri dieback.
The person is facing three charges after walking through the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park three times in the past five months.
This is the first prosecution against a member of the public for using the tracks.
Last year Kauri were declared to be on the brink of extinction because of the disease Kauri Dieback, which is spread by humans.
The person's act shows a "sense of entitlement and total ignorance," Auckland Mayor Phil Goff told RNZ.
Goff added, under the council's 'zero tolerance' policy, the individual could be fined up to $20,000.
The Mayor called the councils call to action it "regrettable", but necessary.
"But some people just don't hear or just don't accept the message and the last resort is what we're doing here, Goff told RNZ.
Earlier this year, 29 parks were closed to prevent the spread of Kauri dieback.
At the last count, 20 percent of the trees in the Waitākere Ranges were affected by the disease.
But the real number is likely to be higher as it can be 15 years before the symptoms are visible.
There is no cure for Kauri dieback.
