A fundraiser has been started for a Court of Appeal hearing on 15 April to challenge the reinstatement of a resource consent to fell 278 trees on Ōtāhuhu Mt Richmond.

Costs were covered in full by the community for the successful judicial review in 2023 where the High Court cancelled the resource consent. The Tūpuna Maunga Authority is appealing that decision.

Respect Mount Richmond Otahuhu is a community group fighting to stop the ratepayer-funded Tūpuna Maunga Authority from reinstating this resource consent to fell nearly 300 trees at their local maunga just because they’re non-native. The Authority wants to rid Auckland’s maunga of all exotic trees, so if they win this case, it will help set a precedent for other maunga.

Otahuhu has Auckland’s lowest level of tree cover.

The group’s barrister has asked them to aim to raise $45,000. The Give a Little page is here. Any surplus funds donated will be used for a similar environmental cause.

Image: Ōtāhuhu Mt Richmond