Court rejects bid to stop cutting down exotic trees

A legal bid to stop the cutting down of exotic trees on Auckland's Owairaka has been rejected by the High Court. Tupuna Maunga Authority wants to remove 345 exotic trees to make way for the planting of 13,000 native plants. But the Honour the Maunga group's been campaigning to save the tree - protesting and occupying the site over the past year. A judicial review was sought of the consenting decision and dismissed, in a ruling released today. Jordan Bond reports.