Media Release

March 14, 2015

Kauri Trees Highlight Urgent And Immediate Action Needed on RMA Environmental Protections

With the Kauri and Rimu trees of Paturoa Road safe while negotiations take place, Michael Tavares and the Titirangi community have shown how powerful voices can be when they are united in their call for change.

"Communities will increasingly be taking action while the Resource Management Act and councils fail them. What we learnt this week was that they can win!" says Michael, who occupied the majestic Kauri for over 80 hours to stop it being cut down, as it was scheduled for at 7.30am on Monday March 9th.

Now people are beginning to ask for serious leadership that is currently lacking on environmental protection.

"Central government pointed the finger at local government; local government pointed the finger at bureaucrats; bureaucrats were just working legally within the framework set up by central government - all the while no one is taking leadership to deal with these issues. What we need urgently is real and collaborative leadership to stop situations like we faced at the beginning of the week from happening again."

"With the changes to the RMA in 2009, 2013 and the proposed new changes, this devastating situation may well be the kind of thing we see more of," Michael says.

"We have been sorely let down by politicians. The National government weakened resource management laws which have allowed for this to happen."

"Right now the RMA is not working to protect the environment, and the environmental values that are important to all New Zealanders.

The Paturoa Kauri and Rimu should serve as catalyst for serious reform in RMA legislation and local body processes. Balance needs to be restored to bring the RMA back to it's original Kaupapa of environmental protections and away from its current heavy weighting towards rushed development."

"Development must be managed in a way that it does not undermine the values of the community and the environment. There also needs to be accountability and solid processes in place to engage with all stakeholders.

"Until this happens we will see more and more communities uniting, standing up for the places that they love and demanding to have their voices heard.”

ENDS

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