Honour The Maunga - Stop the Removal of 345 Exotic Trees from Mt Albert

Our mission is to honour Owairaka / Mt Albert and all the life-forms she supports by preventing the needless felling of 345 healthy, mature exotic trees.

In late October 2019, the Tupuna Maunga Authority advised that 345 healthy, mature exotic trees would be removed from Owairaka-Mt Albert beginning mid November. That's nearly half of the mountain's trees! Over the next few years, it plans to plant 13,000 native shrubs, grasses and tree saplings.

Honour The Maunga was formed by a group of locals who are deeply concerned at the scale, timing and lack of community engagement around the removal of these trees. There is deep feeling in the community for this special place with it beautiful trees and wonderful birdlife. Over time our group has grown to include people from communities all over Auckland and the North Island.

Honour The Maunga supports the Authority's long-term vision to cloak the maunga in native plants but their plan to remove all exotic trees at once is very damaging and destructive - for the birds and other lifeforms, for the mountain itself, and for the surrounding environment. It makes no sense to remove so many trees during a climate emergency.

We are calling for Tupuna Maunga Authority to consult with communities and develop a new, more environmentally sound plan that allows time for native plants to reach maturity under the protective shelter of the existing exotic and native trees.

We have maintained a 24 x 7 presence on the maunga since felling was due to begin on 11 November 2019. As a result, the trees are all still there. Your donation will help us to retain a presence on the maunga until we know the trees are safe.

Check out our website at https://honourthemaunga.org.nz/

Sign our petition at https://www.change.org/p/auckland-council-save-the-trees-on-owairaka-mount-albert