A protection group has told a parliamentary select committee hearing that an amendment to the Resource Management Act could mean the decimation of trees across Auckland.
The Local Government and Environment Select Committee is consulting on an amendment bill.
New Zealand Arboricultural Association vice-president Lisa Sanderson told MPs the inclusion of Section 52 of the bill would cause the eventual decimation of the natural environment in an uncontrolled manner.
She submitted that the bill would remove protection to urban trees in residential areas.
Ms Sanderson said it would remove the requirement to obtain a resource consent to remove a tree unless there a specific protection order had been created with the local council.
She said trees most under threat would be coastal pohutakawa.
