Auckland mayor Len Brown will formally apologise to a Japanese counterpart over the uprooting of most of a friendship garden at Auckland Zoo.
Len Brown. Photo: RNZ
The zoo wants the Fukuoka Friendship Garden relocated to make way for Tasmanian Devils, due from Australia in March.
The garden had been at the zoo since 1990 and was gifted by sister city Fukuoka.
Its supporters went to a council meeting on Thursday, saying they were being tossed between committees with their concerns.
Mr Brown says it was a mistake and he will say sorry to Fukuoka's mayor, although Soichiro Takashima said in a letter to Mr Brown in December last year that his city supports the relocation.
Auckland Zoo says it has only ever done what the council asked it to.
