The Tupuna Maunga Authority says protesters aren't delaying the planned tree removal at Auckland's Mt Albert.
The authority manages the city's 14 ancestral mountains, and it plans to remove 345 exotic trees from the maunga.
Protesters armed with signs are blocking the summit's entrance, stopping construction workers getting into the area.
The authority's chair Paul Majurey told Andrew Dickens they can't go through the protesters' picket line.
"With any major works like this, health and safety is a key consideration. We understand from some spokes-folk they are there for peaceful process."Â
He says that they have support for the programme from the Tree Council and Forest and Bird.Â
Majurey says the programme is underway from today.
Deputy chair Alf Filipaina says opponents of the felling should've followed proper processes.
"It was put into all the neighbourhood papers around the consultation period. I don't know how they would have missed it."
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