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More than 100 protesters have gathered to stop the logging of native trees in Auckland, and one man tied himself to a bulldozer.
For more than 70 days, the Save Canal Road Native Trees group has occupied an area of Canal Rd in Avondale.
On Wednesday, veteran protester Steve Abel, who was previously nearly hit by one of the trees as he fell, said up to 200 people were at the site after hearing that police were on their way and contractors planned to cut down trees on Wednesday.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
Protesters were hanging from trees Wednesday morning.
About half a dozen people were in the trees and protester Ken Sparks had used duct tape to secure a bulldozer on a truck so he couldn’t get to the scene.
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The heavy machinery arrived at 5 a.m. and within seconds, Sparks had stuck to the bulldozer before they could unload it from the transport truck.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
Protester Ken Sparks has barricaded himself in a bulldozer on a truck so that he cannot reach the site.
Other protesters formed a human wall behind him.
Sparks stayed like this for a few hours and after 9 a.m., he agreed to untie himself because the contractors promised to take him off.
Abel said it was another victory for the cause to save the trees.
He said they had “solid information” that the heavy machinery was going to work before going into action.
It was the first time in 70 days that they had seen heavy machinery at the scene since their protest began, he said.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
About 20 police officers at the scene were wearing masks and gloves.
“It was urgent that we do this, and we managed to keep the trees separated for one more day.”
Abel said people were yelling and calling on Auckland City Council to “come together” and stop cutting down trees.
Many people could be seen at the protest wearing masks. About 20 police officers at the scene were wearing masks and gloves.
In the 71 days since the occupation began, Abel said that Mayor Phil Goff, nor any councilman, had been there.
Abel said the protesters were “very passionate” and that the protection of the trees needed to be restored.
A police spokesman said officers are aware of the ongoing protest action.
“We are currently on site and are monitoring the situation,” the spokesman said.
“The police recognize the legal right to protest and our priority is to guarantee everyone’s safety.”
Save Canal Road Native Trees is asking Auckland City Council to purchase the property as a public reserve.
The group also wants the government to restore general tree protection.
In July, Goff said Stuff His team was working hard to reverse amendments made to the Resource Management Act in 2012 that allowed for logging on private property without consent.
“There are clumps of trees like this all over our city that have no protection. We need to reverse the amendments [made] in 2012 and the best way to protect these trees is to achieve changes in the legislation to obtain group protection. “
The Auckland Council’s Environment Committee said it would explore the legal aspects first, telling protesters that it did not want to offer any false hope that it might be possible.
