Tree Chopping

Okay I don’t subscribe to the notion that you have an inviolable right to do whatever you want on your property. I’m comfortable with not being able to build a 100 foot high fence as it may block your neighbour’s views. I’m also comfortable that if you have an ancient native tree – you know 200 years old or so, that it may have heritage protection.

But prosecuting Alice Presley because she cut down an exotic tree on her own property seems like bureaucracy gone mad. Especially that said tree had been causing problems with the power lines.

But the problem is Auckland City Council have passed a bylaw that basically says any tree over eight metres tall belongs to them, and you need their permission to cut it down. Ridiculous.