Michael Tavares in Court for Wilful Trespass
Michael Tavares in Court for Wilful Trespass of the Titirangi Kauri
Michael Tavares, who occupied the
Paturoa Kauri for 81 hours in March is today making his
second appearance in the Waitakere District Court after
being charged with wilful trespass on April 16, 2015.
“By occupying the tree, a community was finally
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 on Sunday.”
For more information, see: Facebook event or email
thewildernerd@hotmail.com
ENDS