Plan Change 113 was officially withdrawn on Friday 12 December 2025.

PC113 sought to provide greater protection to trees that had been identified as having significant historical, botanical or amenity values. It proposed adding 174 new individual trees and 29 new groups of trees to the Auckland Unitary Plan’s Notable Trees Schedule (Schedule 10). Many of these trees had been nominated by The Tree Council, requiring years of volunteer work across the city to find, assess and nominate them to Auckland Council.

This plan change has been at least three years in the making. The current government claims to be amending legislation to reduce red tape and regulatory costs while actually costing councils across the country hundreds of thousands of dollars in wasted and/or repeated work.

The trees that would have been protected by this plan change will now be at huge risk of removal due to development pressures. Failing to protect these significant natural heritage assets for future generations is irresponsible, short sighted and a dereliction of duty in terms of providing quality of life for urban residents of the future.

The entire schedule is at risk due to the proposed new legislation to replace the Resource Management Act that was introduced this week. The Tree Council urges all those who care about having a quality urban lifestyle that includes the protection of trees on private land to make submissions on the draft Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill.

Adapted from Tree Council media release

Image: Tree Council