The Environment Select Committee has released its report and recommended amendments to the Natural and Built Environment Bill.

Supporters of The Tree Council and the New Zealand Arboricultural Association sent more than 3,300 submissions to the select committee supporting the changes recommended in their Stop the Chop campaign.

The  Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment recently released a report highlighting how important trees and green space, and the benefits they provide, are for healthy cities, and how other cities around the world balance canopy cover, green space and intensive housing far better than we are currently doing in New Zealand.

The changes proposed by the select committee are promising for a potentially significant improvement in the legislative regime for the protection of urban trees. The Bill will have its second reading in Parliament on 24 July and then head to the committee stage, before returning for its final reading before the end of August.

Image: Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment