Place of unity

This morning I went for a walk up

wairaka/Mt Albert to see what the protest is all about. So much open space! Why is there any need to cut down 300-odd trees, when there are swathes of open grassland — not including the sports fields — already begging to be planted? The solution is obvious. Why not undertake the proposed urban planting in a staged and ecologically managed approach? Select one precinct at a time, install alkathene irrigation and drippers, plant new trees, suppress the grass and preserve moisture with a mound of mulch. As each area establishes, progress to the next. Meanwhile, the existing trees provide shade, cultural amenity, and a home for the birds. As the new plantings take hold, the birds will move across, and ultimately the older trees can be individually removed in a staged and gradual transition.

The current and proposed approach of stripping out all the exotics before replanting beggars belief. The Tu¯puna Maunga Authority, with the support of Auckland Council and the vocal support of Tau Henare, seem hellbent on doing it their way. The peaceful protesters at

wairaka/Mt Albert have a valid point, but the official kaitiaki are not listening. When tongues speak and ears listen, there can be compromise: but when chainsaws start speaking, there is no return. The iwi want to plant natives. The community want to plant natives. Let us all work together for the common goal. The maunga should be places of unity, not contention.

It is about kotahitanga, manaakitanga, a¯whina, aroha; meeting in the middle. If only the authorities would listen.

Roger Evans, Ranui.