The Tree Council is calling on the public to contact their local MP and ask them to vote against the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill when it goes for its third reading in a couple of weeks’ time.

The protection of urban trees, other than notable trees with historic heritage, is out of scope of the legislation. This means that there will be no rules to protect our urban trees, and the regulatory relief provisions will mean that landowners can sue the council for compensation for imposing rules they think will restrict what they want to do on their properties.

Tell your MP you want trees protected in your city and in your electorate.

The Tree Council fully supports the media statements and select committee submissions made by the Environmental Defence Society, New Zealand Arboricultural Association (NZ Arb) and the New Zealand Notable Trees Trust on this issue and the inadequacies of the proposed legislation.

How to contact your MP here.

Select Committee Report on the Planning Bill here.  

Select Committee Report on the Natural Environment Bill here.

Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s Analysis of the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill here.

Image: Tree Council