A new front has opened up in West Auckland's tree saga, with a Ngāti Whatua representative delivering a stinging rebuke to the Waitematā Local Board today.
The plan to get rid of some 200 pine trees has already proven hugely controversial among a group of Western Springs locals, but had up until this morning been a predominantly Pākēhā protest.
But Ngāti Whatua historian and tikanga expert Joe Pihema says the local board has derailed its relationship with the iwi by failing to consult.
Matthew Theunissen reports.
