STOP THE CHOP

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Overview: The Government is about to create a new law that will allow anyone to cut down large numbers of previously protected trees without permission. The law will also restrict the ability of councils to implement tree protection rules where there are currently none. If the change goes ahead, property developers will be free to cut down any tree on their land unless it's listed in their council's district plan. Native trees and large areas of bush could disappear overnight. The impact of this 'change for cost saving' will be felt for years to come!! Your neighbours would be free to chop down any large trees they wanted to, taking away your privacy in a matter of minutes, and potentially lowering the value of your property just as quickly. If you want to Stop The Chop, let your local MP know before it's too late. The Bill is in the process of being read so there is no time to lose. Refer to the list below and send an email to your local MP to petition the Government to delete Clause 52 of the proposed Resource Management (Simplifying & Streamlining) Amendment Bill 2009.
Sample Email: An example for the text of your email is as follows: Dear [Name of 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 from the proposed Resource Management (Simplifying & Streamlining) Amendment Bill 2009 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. I look forward to your favourable response. Kind regards, [Your Name]	Please send your comments to: Auckland Electorate MPs Click HERE All National, Act, Maori and United Party MPs Click HERE and HERE The Minister for the Environment and his Press Secretary Click HERE Local Government & Environment Select Committee MPs Click HERE If you do not have an email client installed on your machine, please click HERE for the plain text list of all these email addresses.
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Links: Click below for a list of recent articles and press releases regarding the impact that Clause 52 may have on New Zealand's urban forest. Editorial - RMA Disaster for Urban Trees - PDF - Open with Adobe Acrobat The Cost of Protecting Trees - Microsoft Word Document Trees - can we afford not to protect them? http://nzarbor.org.nz/?p=146 To read the New Zealand Arboricultural Association's (NZAA) submission to the select committee with recommended improvements to the existing tree protection rules, please see: http://nzarbor.org.nz/?p=125 To read the considered view of the Tree Council (Inc), please see: http://www.thetreecouncil.org.nz/news.php?page=news For a summary of the Green Party's recommended changes to the proposed Resource Management (Simplifying & Streamlining) Amendment Bill 2009, please see: http://www.greens.org.nz/node/21676 For a copy of the full Select Committee report recommending the removal of urban tree protection rules (refer primarily to page 51 of the bill which details Clause 52) to the Minister, please go to: http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/9ACB0AA4-E172-4243-8D0E-5C0347EDB9A6/110449/DBSCH_SCR_4471_ResourceManagementSimplifyingandStr.pdf TV & Radio Interviews: Click on the following link to view the TV1 Breakfast show interview about Clause 52. The interview follows the automatic National Bank ad. http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/breakfast-thursday-september-03-2964065/video?vid=2964107 To listen to the radio interview between Sustainable Simon and Stacy Colyer from Greenscene Limited, click the following link. To get to the start of the interview, just drag the 'round button' to just left of half way along the play bar. Enjoy!! http://www.95bfm.co.nz/assets/sm/192426/3/greendesk010909.mp3 RMA Tree Change Opposed - click here to listen to a RNZ overview http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/09/02/1245c7148355 Press Releases and Articles: NZ Herald 4/09/09 - Fantastic piece from Brian Rudman calling it as he sees it. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10595086&pnum=0 Law changes could see open season on trees http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10561240&pnum=0 City's tree lovers to press MPs for rethink on controversial law changes http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10569007 Trees can we afford not to protect them? http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?l=1&t=72&id=39715 Protection for trees will be 'up to landowner' http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10591941 Urban Tree Felling Revs Up http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0908/S00236.htm The price of a tree - New York City http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/18/nyregion/18trees.html?_r=1 Environmental Defence Society - RMA Press Release http://www.eds.org.nz/content/documents/pressreleases/RMA%20Bill%20Reported%20Back%20to%20Parliament.pdf Anger over reforms / process not being consulted for hearings http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10569445 Blog - John Arbury (planning consultant) http://transportblog.co.nz/2009/02/05/rma-reforms/ City's tree lovers to press MPs for rethink on controversial law changes - Tree Council http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10569007 Green Party - Minority Report http://www.greens.org.nz/misc-documents/green-party-minority-report-resource-management-simplifying-and-streamlining-amendmen Auckland Regional Council RMA Streamlining Bill Goes To Seed When It Comes To Tree Protection Facebook Group: To check out the Facebook group, go to: http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=1034199190712&f=1&e=-12#/group.php?gid=124546211745
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