Environmental activists have climbed up native trees in Auckland's Avondale, trying to stop developers from cutting them down.
Of the 46 that originally stood at the site on Canal Rd, environmental campaigner and Green Party candidate Steve Abel says only 23 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 himself has been trespassed from the site, after scaling one of the trees in July. He came down when the developer promised not to cut any more down that day, but was subsequently banned from the site.
"We have an endless stream of amazingly dedicated activists and members of the community," he said, saying trespassing him won't stop the protests.
"There are people currently in the trees. Arborists, the arboricultural community have come out and said 'we're sick of seeing these trees come down too'."
Blanket protection of trees in Auckland was removed in 2012 by the National-led Government. Abel said the Greens, who back the present NZ First-Labour coalition, have tried to get the law changed back - but have been blocked by the coalition partners.
"We don't know what development's going in there, but it's an absolutely terrible loss for the city and this neighbourhood," said Abel. "This stand is unreplaceable. It's a century-old stand, massive native trees. It should be acquired by the council and kept for the good of the community."
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.
"We cannot force a private landowner to contemplate a land exchange or direct them to consider other options," Councillor Alf Filipaina, chair of the council’s Parks, Arts, Culture and Events Committee, said.
The previous owners of the site, the Raymond family, said the developer made removal of the trees a condition of the sale.
Local board members and Councillors oppose the trees' felling, but can't legally do anything about it.
"We opposed the removal of blanket tree protection for Auckland and have now twice written to the Minister for the Environment asking for protection for our precious native trees to be reinstated," said Councillor Richard Hills, chair of the council’s Environment and Climate Change Committee.
Abel said while he backs building more housing, people also need green spaces.
More than 7000 people have signed a petition calling for the council to buy the land.
