Auckland Council to vote on kauri protection

Auckland Council's environment committee will decide whether to close the Waitakere Ranges to the public in an attempt to slow the spread of a disease that is killing kauri trees. One in five trees in the 16,000ha park now has kauri die-back and at the weekend mana whenua placed a rahui on the area to discourage people from visiting. However, council officials have recommended the Waitakere Ranges remain open. Mels Barton is secretary of the Tree Council and joins us with her reaction.