Following the very successful public meeting, with over 200 people, held Tuesday 1st September, it is critical that we write via email or letter to MPs THIS WEEK, as the Bill will go through its final phase next week, starting 8th September.

PLEASE ASK MPs TO REMOVE CLAUSE 52,  and review tree protection rules and the administering of all consenting processes at a local authority level.  Please take just a few minutes to help us reverse a recommendation that may have significant adverse effects for our future generations.

Please click here for email addresses of MPs to immediately write to. Below is a brief letter template, and additional points you may want to include.

Dear ...  MP

I am writing to you to register my concern about the impact that Clause 52 of the proposed Resource Management (Simplifying & Streamlining) Amendment Bill 2009 will have on the urban tree population of New Zealand.

I request that you delete Clause 52 altogether, retain the existing tree protection provisions and seek to meaningfully engage with local communities in respect to any modifications of existing tree protection rules and administering processes. 

I look forward to your favourable response.

Below are some points that you could include:

• The government ignored a large proportion of submitters who objected to Clause 52,
• The NZAA have recommended a number of viable options to allow for improvements to the existing system to provide cost-effective, efficient and environmentally positive outcomes without prohibiting urban tree protection rules.  For example, revisions to the current administration systems, delegations, decision making processes, general tree protection criteria and assessment criteria,
• Consents to cut down trees are free and 95% of consents are granted,
• Listing, or scheduling of trees in the District Plan as the only permissible means of protecting trees is costly, time consuming, very limited and does not plan for the future,
• Trees help to reduce urban pollution, provide homes for birds, give shade, stabilise the soil and offer privacy,
• The well recognised and diverse functions and values of trees, clearly identify trees as being of community value, and need to be taken into account as well as that of individual property rights,
• A significant reduction to urban tree cover could result in a loss of significant economic benefits for local councils, residents and business enterprises,
• Once law, developers will be able to clear fell a site and not have to replace any lost trees through replanting,
• Many trees will be cut down as soon as it becomes law,
• With development pressure so great in the Auckland region, there will be increasing numbers of sites with little or no tree cover for shade, screening or visual amenity - any trees planted will be of a size that will take decades to provide such functions,
• Once the trees are removed, the effects of the decision to change the RMA cannot be reversed in our lifetimes nor the next generations.  How many generations it will take depends on the amount of vegetation lost,
• NZ risks losing its international clean green image that it has worked hard to promote and could negatively affect tourism.

23rd August

The Local Government and Environment Select Committee released their report on submissions to the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill on Tuesday 18th August.

Clause 52 (banning general tree protection rules) remains, but some wording changed - the effect being much the same.  From 1 January 2012 Councils will have had to eliminate any general tree protection rules they had, and limit themselves to identifying trees, or groups of trees, in the District Plan, as the only means of protection.  From October this year, no local authority can enact any new tree protection rules other than listing, as described.   These restrictions do not apply to Reserves or Conservation Management areas and are only in 'urban environments', for which a clearer definition has been included.

The full report can be found here (large pdf file 6.6 MB).

Click here for relevant pages from the report:  the report's commentary (pg 30), the actual text of the Clauses (pgs 116 and 267), and the Green Party's minority view (pg 57).   

The government have ignored the large proportion of submitters who expressed objections to this Clause (see our joint media release with the NZ Arboricultural Association).  The Minister cited money as a reason for removing tree protection, stating that the current consents system in the Auckland region is costly and cumbersome.  However, "Tree only" consents are free and over 95% are granted on a non-notified basis.  There are options to introduce more efficient and effective systems without removing tree protection altogether.  The New Zealand Arboricultural Association (NZAA) has offered the Minister free consultation and access to research that would allow them to achieve this goal.  This has been refused.

ACTION IS NEEDED NOW - IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO START WRITING NOW (if you haven't already!) and please pass this on to others who might be also be interested

It is expected that the government will put this Bill through the final parliamentary process as soon as possible - possibly starting as early as Thursday 27th August, with the critical final voting stage on the 8th or 9th September (there is a week's recess in between) so that it can become law by 1st October 2009.

We urgently need people to write letters NOW to MPs, particularly targeting National, United and Maori Party MPs, letting them know you are their constituents, (Labour and Greens already oppose this Clauses).  Contact addresses here. You can also write to your local newspapers to help influence the final decision.  There is also talkback radio.  

In particular, if you live in an electorate with a National MP, please write directly to them, voicing your concerns, saying you are a constituent.  It is really important to target National electorate MPs, in particular Nikki Kaye (Auckland Central); Paula Bennett (Waitakere), and Sam Lotu-Iiga (Maungakiekie) as they are most vulnerable, with slim majorities.

Here are some points you could include:

*    government ignored large proportion of submitters who objected to this Clause
*    Options are available from the NZ Arboricultural Association that will save time, money and the environment without removing general urban tree protection (see below** for a broad outline as conveyed to MPs at the Select Committee stage, but were ignored)
*    once law, developers will be able to clear fell a site and not have to replace any lost trees through replanting
*    many trees will be cut down as soon as it becomes law
*    with development pressure so great in the Auckland region, there will be increasing number of sites with little or no tree cover for shade, screening or visual amenity - any trees planted will be of a size that will take decades to provide such functions
*    listing, or scheduling, of trees in the District Plan, as the only permissible means of protecting trees, is costly, time consuming and very limited
*    listing, or scheduling, will potentially involve more cost and council staff time than administration of current tree protection rules
*    the well recognised and diverse functions and values of trees, clearly identify trees as being of community value, and need to be taken into account as well as that of an individual property right
*    NZ risks losing its international clean green image that it has worked hard to promote and could negatively affect tourism.

You can also look other Tree Council's pages for more comprehensive ideas.

Summary of the NZ Arboricultural Associations' recommendations to the Select Committee on improvements to the existing system (i.e. not prohibiting general urban tree protection):-
o Lifting the permitted baseline (requirement for a resource consent) and allowing a higher level of activities – like pruning – to go ahead without the need for a consent (based on additional criteria, for example, utilising ‘approved contractor’ provisions or similar),
o Allowing a greater level of delegation, so that the appropriate council officers can sign off on the majority of consents, therefore reducing the level of staff involvement,
o Allowing on-site, instant, carbonated or electronic decisions,
o Standardising some of the rules (i.e. the “super city” concept),
o ·Increased efficiency through a review of the internal council processes and administration procedures.

Please send your concerns to:-
 
We urgently need people to write letters NOW to MPs, particularly targeting National, United and Maori Party MPs, letting them know you are their constituents, (Labour and Greens already oppose this Clauses).

In particular, if you live in an electorate with a National MP, please write directly to them, voicing your concerns, saying you are a constituent.  It is really important to target National electorate MPs, in particular Nikki Kaye (Auckland Central); Paula Bennett (Waitakere), and Sam Lotu-Iiga (Maungakiekie) as they are most vulnerable, with slim majorities.

Below are addresses for Auckland Electorate MPs, and all National, Act, Maori and United Future Party MPs.    In addition here is a link to a parliamentary file with full contact details of all MPs (pdf)

Auckland Electorate MPs:- (copy and paste)
National and Act Party: Nikki.kaye@parliament.govt.nz; paula.bennett@parliament.govt.nz; peseta.sam.lotu-iiga@parliament.govt.nz; j.coleman@ministers.govt.nz; Murray.McCully@parliament.govt.nz; r.hide@ministers.govt.nz; j.key@minister.govt.nz; Judith.collins@parliament.govt.nz; Allan.peachey@parliament.govt.nz; Maurice.williamson@parliament.govt.nz; Pansy.wong@parliament.govt.nz; wayne.mapp@parliament.govt.nz; murray.mccully@parliament.govt.nz; lockwood.smith@parliament.govt.nz
Labour Party: Paul.Hutchinson@parliament.govt.nz; david.shearer@parliament.govt.nz; Chris.carter@parliament.govt.nz; ross.robertson@parliament.govt.nz; sua.william.sio@parliament.govt.nz;  george.Hawkins@parliament.govt.nz; David.cunliffe@parliament.govt.nz; Phil.goff@parliament.govt.nz
Maori Party: Pita.sharples@parliament.govt.nz

Minister for the Environment and his press secretary:-
n.smith@ministers.govt.nz; Simon.beattie@parliament.govt.nz

Below are email addresses of ALL National, Act, Maori and United Party MPs (these can be copied and pasted as a whole).

john.boscawen@parliament.govt.nz; roger.douglas@parliament.govt.nz; david.garrett@parliament.govt.nz; rodney.hide@parliament.govt.nz; heather.roy@parliament.govt.nz; amy.adams@parliament.govt.nz; shane.ardern@parliament.govt.nz;
chris.auchinvole@parliament.govt.nz; kanwaljit.singh.bakshi@parliament.govt.nz; david.bennett@parliament.govt.nz; paula.bennett@parliament.govt.nz; jackie.blue@parliament.govt.nz; chester.borrows@parliament.govt.nz; simon.bridges@parliament.govt.nz; g.brownlee@ministers.govt.nz; cam.calder@parliament.govt.nz; david.carter@parliament.govt.nz; j.coleman@ministers.govt.nz; j.collins@ministers.govt.nz; jacqui.dean@parliament.govt.nz; bill.english@parliament.govt.nz; christopher.finlayson@parliament.govt.nz; craig.foss@parliament.govt.nz; aaron.gilmore@parliament.govt.nz; jo.goodhew@parliament.govt.nz; sandra.goudie@parliament.govt.nz; tim.groser@parliament.govt.nz; nathan.guy@ministers.govt.nz; john.hayes@parliament.govt.nz; phil.heatley@parliament.govt.nz; tau.henare@parliament.govt.nz; paul.hutchison@parliament.govt.nz; s.joyce@ministers.govt.nz; nikki.kaye@parliament.govt.nz; j.key@ministers.govt.nz; colin.king@parliament.govt.nz; melissa.lee@parliament.govt.nz; peseta.sam.lotu-iiga@national.org.nz; tim.macindoe@parliament.govt.nz; wayne.mapp@parliament.govt.nz; todd.mcclay@parliament.govt.nz; murray.mccully@parliament.govt.nz; hekia.parata@parliament.govt.nz; allan.peachey@parliament.govt.nz; simon.power@parliament.govt.nz; paul.quinn@parliament.govt.nz; eric.roy@parliament.govt.nz; tony.ryall@parliament.govt.nz; katrina.shanks@parliament.govt.nz; lockwood.smith@parliament.govt.nz; nick.smith@parliament.govt.nz; georgina.teheuheu@parliament.govt.nz; lindsay.tisch@parliament.govt.nz; anne.tolley@parliament.govt.nz; chris.tremain@parliament.govt.nz; louise.upston@parliament.govt.nz; nicky.wagner@parliament.govt.nz; kate.wilkinson@parliament.govt.nz; maurice.williamson@parliament.govt.nz; pansy.wong@parliament.govt.nz; michael.woodhouse@parliament.govt.nz; jonathan.young@parliament.govt.nz; jim.anderton@parliament.govt.nz; peter.dunne@parliament.govt.nz; teururoa.flavell@parliament.govt.nz; hone.harawira@parliament.govt.nz; rahui.katene@parliament.govt.nz; pita.sharples@parliament.govt.nz; tariana.turia@parliament.govt.nz;

Full list of MPs -  You can also click here for a file with full contact details of all MPs.
Anderton, Jim               Progressive, Wigram
Ardern, Jacinda            Labour Party, List
Ardern, Shane              National Party, Taranaki-King Country
Auchinvole, Chris         National Party, West Coast-Tasman
Bakshi, Kanwaljit Singh National Party, List
Barker, Rick                  Labour Party, List
Beaumont, Carol          Labour Party, List
Bennett, David             National Party, Hamilton East
Bennett, Paula             National Party, Waitakere
Blue, Jackie                  National Party, List
Borrows, Chester         National Party, Whanganui
Boscawen, John          ACT New Zealand, List
Bradford, Sue              Green Party, List
Bridges, Simon           National Party, Tauranga
Brownlee, Gerry         National Party, Ilam
Burns, Brendon          Labour Party, Christchurch Central
Calder, Cam               National Party, List
Carter, Chris              Labour Party, Te Atatu
Carter, David             National Party, List
Carter, John               National Party, Northland
Chadwick, Steve        Labour Party, List
Chauvel, Charles        Labour Party, List
Choudhary, Ashraf        Labour Party, List
Coleman, Jonathan        National Party, Northcote
Collins, Judith               National Party, Papakura
Cosgrove, Clayton        Labour Party, Waimakariri
Cunliffe, David               Labour Party, New Lynn
Curran, Clare              Labour Party, Dunedin South
Dalziel, Lianne           Labour Party, Christchurch East
Davis, Kelvin             Labour Party, List
Dean, Jacqui             National Party, Waitaki
Delahunty, Catherine    Green Party, List
Douglas, Roger        ACT New Zealand, List
Dunne, Peter            United Future, Ohariu
Dyson, Ruth              Labour Party, Port Hills
English, Bill               National Party, Clutha-Southland
Fenton, Darien           Labour Party, List
Finlayson, Christopher    National Party, List
Fitzsimons, Jeanette    Green Party, List
Flavell, Te Ururoa    Maori Party, Waiariki
Foss, Craig            National Party, Tukituki
Garrett, David        ACT New Zealand, List
Gilmore, Aaron        National Party, List
Goff, Phil            Labour Party, Mt Roskill
Goodhew, Jo            National Party, Rangitata
Goudie, Sandra        National Party, Coromandel
Graham, Kennedy        Green Party, List
Groser, Tim            National Party, List
Guy, Nathan            National Party, Otaki
Hague, Kevin        Green Party, List
Harawira, Hone        Maori Party, Te Tai Tokerau
Hawkins, George        Labour Party, Manurewa
Hayes, John            National Party, Wairarapa
Heatley, Phil        National Party, Whangarei
Henare, Tau            National Party, List
Hide, Rodney        ACT New Zealand, Epsom
Hipkins, Chris        Labour Party, Rimutaka
Hodgson, Pete        Labour Party, Dunedin North
Horomia, Parekura        Labour Party, Ikaroa-Rawhiti
Hughes, Darren        Labour Party, List
Huo, Raymond        Labour Party, List
Hutchison, Paul        National Party, Hunua
Jones, Shane        Labour Party, List
Joyce, Steven        National Party, List
Katene, Rahui        Maori Party, Te Tai Tonga
Kaye, Nikki            National Party, Auckland Central
Kedgley, Sue        Green Party, List
Key, John            National Party, Helensville
King, Annette        Labour Party, Rongotai
King, Colin            National Party, Kaikoura
Laban, Luamanuvao Winnie Labour Party, Mana
Lee, Melissa        National Party, List
Lees-Galloway, Iain    Labour Party, Palmerston North
Locke, Keith        Green Party, List
Lotu-Iiga, Peseta Sam    National Party, Maungakiekie
Macindoe, Tim        National Party, Hamilton West
Mackey, Moana        Labour Party, List
Mahuta, Nanaia        Labour Party, Hauraki-Waikato
Mallard, Trevor        Labour Party, Hutt South
Mapp, Wayne            National Party, North Shore
McClay, Todd        National Party, Rotorua
McCully, Murray        National Party, East Coast Bays
Moroney, Sue        Labour Party, List
Nash, Stuart        Labour Party, List
Norman, Russel        Green Party, List
O'Connor, Damien        Labour Party, List
Parata, Hekia        National Party, List
Parker, David        Labour Party, List
Peachey, Allan        National Party, Tamaki
Pillay, Lynne        Labour Party, List
Power, Simon        National Party, Rangitikei
Prasad, Rajen        Labour Party, List
Quinn, Paul            National Party, List
Ririnui, Mita        Labour Party, List
Robertson, Grant        Labour Party, Wellington Central
Robertson, Ross        Labour Party, Manukau East
Roy, Eric            National Party, Invercargill
Roy, Heather        ACT New Zealand, List
Ryall, Tony            National Party, Bay of Plenty
Sepuloni, Carmel        Labour Party, List
Shanks, Katrina        National Party, List
Sharples, Pita        Maori Party, Tamaki Makaurau
Shearer, David        Labour Party, Mt Albert
Sio, Su'a William        Labour Party, Mangere
Smith, Lockwood        National Party, Rodney
Smith, Nick            National Party, Nelson
Street, Maryan        Labour Party, List
te Heuheu, Georgina    National Party, List
Tisch, Lindsay        National Party, Waikato
Tolley, Anne        National Party, East Coast
Tremain, Chris        National Party, Napier
Turei, Metiria        Green Party, List
Turia, Tariana        Maori Party, Te Tai Hauauru
Twyford, Phil        Labour Party, List
Upston, Louise        National Party, Taupo
Wagner, Nicky        National Party, List
Wilkinson, Kate        National Party, List
Williamson, Maurice    National Party, Pakuranga
Wong, Pansy            National Party, Botany
Woodhouse, Michael    National Party, List
Young, Jonathan        National Party, New Plymouth

Please also write letters to your newspapers, for example:
letters@nzherald.co.nz (New Zealand Herald); editor@northernadvocate.co.nz (Northern Advocate); letters@dompost.co.nz (Dominion Post);  edcl@snl.co.nz (Central Leader and Auckland City Harbour News); edeb@snl.co.nz (East and Bays Courier); ec@snl.co.nz (Eastern Courier); edmc@snl.co.nz (Manukau Courier); nsnews@snl.co.nz (North Shore Times); edwl@snl.co.nz (Western Leader); g.dobson@snl.co.nz (Rodney Times)