Trees
Working on or around trees |
Trees on public land |
Environmental fines
Working on or around trees
This information details the general requirements for tree protection in the
Auckland isthmus.
Contact us if you would like information about tree protection in the Hauraki Gulf islands
or the central area.
Working on or around trees on your property
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| Of 'Working on trees' pack which includes 'Pruning or
removing trees' in English, Chinese, Samoan, Tongan and Hindi and a
Resource consent - Trees application form |
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You must apply for resource consent to carry out work or remove or
destroy a tree that is protected by Auckland city's rules. When considering the application, we will look at the necessity for (and
alternatives to)
- removal
- the possibility of relocating the tree
- the contribution the tree makes to the local environment.
Scheduled trees
The presence of a scheduled tree on your property will be
indicated on the planning maps and Appendix 2 in the District Plan - isthmus
section. In the central area plan, note that scheduling applies to all parts of the tree including the roots - normally defined as the
root zone - that portion of the ground under the full canopy extent (the dripline) of the tree. Work in this area, including excavation
or ground level changes, is also controlled.
If you have such a tree or trees on your property, contact us. We can offer advice
(without cost) about protection and maintenance, which best balances your opportunities and needs with the ongoing welfare of the
tree(s).
A resource consent application will be required for any work on or to a
scheduled tree (including its roots), or within its dripline. Refer to Part 5C.7.3.3
of the District Plan for details.
General tree protection
The general tree protection controls are aimed at making people look harder at the alternatives before
unnecessarily removing or damaging non-scheduled trees. Applications to prune, remove, or work within the dripline of these trees are
free of charge.
In addition, we have trained professionals (arborists) who can assist you or advise you on the type of help you may need in regard
to tree protection. There is some work which may be carried out on generally protected trees without a resource consent application.
This includes:
- minor trimming or maintaining of trees
- removing dead trees, or diseased or dead parts of a tree
- removing certain types of trees. Exemptions are listed in Part 5C.7.3.3 of
the plan.
If you think you need to carry out emergency work on a protected tree to avoid immediate and likely injury to people or damage to
property, you must advise council immediately and obtain an urgent assessment by an inspecting officer. Council must form the view
that the work truly is emergency work, before allowing you to proceed without a resource consent. This work must be obviously urgent,
and does not include tree removal or pruning based on more general and unverified notions that a tree could be in danger of falling or
dropping branches.
Helpful pruning tips
- Locate the branch bark ridge
- Find A - outside of branch bark ridge
- Find B - swelling where branch meets branch collar
- Make final cut at line AB to prune dead branch.
Always use clean, sharp tools. Use secateurs for small branches. Never use hedge shears to prune a tree.
Avoid cuts that remove the branch collar, which is the fold of wood where the branch joins the trunk.
Never cut across the top of trees (topping) as it will weaken the tree and cause regrowth, which breaks easily and can be a safety
hazard.
Only remove larger branches if it is unavoidable.
Prune when a tree is young - younger trees recover better from pruning than mature trees.
Download 'Pruning or removing trees' brochure (???k PDF)
Tree contractors
It is wise to ensure that anyone carrying out work on trees on your property is properly qualified.
We sometimes receive complaints about 'rogue' arborists. These contractors are soliciting for work door-to-door and carrying out
expensive and illegal tree works.
If you receive a house call from one of these contractors, remember
- most reputable arborists will have a listing in the yellow pages
- qualified arborists are familiar with our tree protection rules. They can tell you whether you need consent for works or not
- professional arborists have public liability insurance and a health and safety policy. Tree work can be dangerous. Ask the
contractor for proof of this
- pay for services only at the conclusion of work
- most reputable arborists are members of
the New Zealand Arboriculture Association.
How controls affect your development?
You may not cut, damage, alter, injure, destroy or partially destroy either scheduled trees or those
protected by general tree protection controls
without resource consent.
Also, you may not do any work around these trees which might endanger them. This includes
- excavation
- depositing material
- construction
- putting in services or
- storing material around the "dripline" of the tree, which is the area beneath its branches.
Helpful advice on how to avoid damaging trees while working around or near them is available
in Annexure 5 of the District Plan - Guidelines for work in the
vicinity of trees.
What trees are protected?
Scheduled trees
These trees are protected for their significant historical, cultural, botanical or amenity value and are identified on the planning
maps and listed in Appendix 2 - Schedule of notable trees. These trees receive
the highest level of protection, details of which can be found in Part 5C of
the District Plan.
General tree protection
The District Plan protects trees over a certain size throughout the Auckland isthmus in all zones. This protection is distinct
from the schedule of notable trees and applies to all trees which meet the size criteria. Such trees are not scheduled. Details of this
are described in Part 5C of the District Plan.
Two categories of trees are protected by the
general tree protection control:
In most residential areas (residential zones 1, 3a, 5, 6 and 7) -
- exotic trees, (those which are not native to NZ) including the roots, over 8m in height or with a girth of greater than 800mm
(measured 1.4m above the ground)
- New Zealand native (indigenous) trees including the roots, over 6m in height or with a girth of greater than 600mm
(measured 1.4m above the ground).
In all other areas
Indigenous and exotic trees, including the roots, over 6m in height or with a girth of greater than 600 mm (measured 1.4m above the
ground).
Note:in the case of a tree with multiple trunks (such as Pohutukawa) the girth measurement shall be the aggregate or
collective measurement of all trunks which have a circumference of 250mm or more.
Coastal protection yard
Certain trees within the coastal protection yard are protected to help maintain the appearance and special character of the
coastline. Part 5B.7.2 of the District Plan details this yard and the controls.
Clifflines
Trees on some clifflines are protected to maintain visual amenity, reduce erosion, and protect the special harbour edge character of
these areas. Part 5B.7.2B of the District Plan details these clifflines and
the controls.
Trees in some open space zones are protected to
maintain appearance, protect habitats and preserve the landscape. See parts 5C and
9 of
the District Plan.
Why protect trees?
Trees (alone or in groups) have a number of positive effects on the environment.
- The continued existence of notable trees is important to our heritage and to the living environmental legacy we leave to future
generations.
- Visual amenity - trees may be visually spectacular, of landmark significance, and form a basic and expected part of a New Zealand
city landscape, softening and complementing the man-made environment.
- The presence of a large tree on a site may provide a pleasant outlook for that site and the neighbourhood in general.
- The presence of a tree or trees in a neighbourhood may form a significant habitat for birds and other animals.
- Trees help to reduce noise in some situations.
- Trees provide shelter from heat, wind and rain.
- Trees can help avoid natural hazards such as landslips and erosion.
- Trees have a positive effect on the atmosphere by recycling moisture, absorbing carbon dioxide and giving off oxygen, and by
settling and gathering airborne
dust.
Tree rules outside Auckland city
To check information about tree protection rules in other parts of the wider Auckland region, visit the relevant council's website
and check their District Plan:
Updated August 2008
