Michael Tavares in Court Today for Titirangi Tree Action
Michael Tavares in Court Today for Titirangi Tree Action
Michael Tavares, who occupied the
Paturoa Kauri for 81 hours in March is today making his
first appearance in the Waitakere District Court to hear
what charges will be made against him.
Mr Tavares
was issued a trespass notice verbally whilst in the Kauri on
the 9th of March but was not arrested or charged at any
point. After handing himself in to the New Lynn Police
Station he was summonsed to appear in court today.
“By occupying the tree, a whole community was
able to have their voice heard on an issue that they should
have been consulted on in the first place. Communities
shouldn’t have to risk their safety or break the law to
protect significant ecosystems or just simply have their
voices heard.”
“Unfortunately with National’s
reforms to the Resource Management Act and local body
decision making processes the people of Titirangi and
communities all over Aotearoa New Zealand have been
seriously let down.”
Mr Tavares is calling for a
National Day of Action to give communities around the
country a chance to share the stories about their special
trees, and to call for the rules protecting these trees to
be strengthened.
“We are calling for groups,
organisations, friends and families to support this Day of
Action by organising an event and taking a photo in front of
their special tree."
"Whether it's a protest or a
picnic, Sunday 3 May will be a chance for everyone to share
their stories about their important trees, and why they
matter personally, or to the community."
“We
can’t climb every tree and we shouldn’t have to, what we
need is better leadership and
legislation.”
“People want to have a voice, we
saw that in Titirangi in March and we’ll see it again
across Aotearoa in May.”
For more information,
see: Facebook event or email thewildernerd@hotmail.com
ENDS