Christchurch's leafy status under threat, urgent action needed to protect city's tree canopy
From reporter Tina Law:
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New figures, released on Thursday by the Christchurch City Council, show 13.5 per cent of the city is covered by tree canopy, some 2 percentage points lower than in 2015-16, when it was 15.6 per cent.
However, the figures are based on data collected in 2018-19 and city councillor Yani Johanson suspects the actual tree loss now would be much greater, possibly double, given the number of trees that have been cut down to make way for housing intensification.
Auckland had a canopy coverage of 18.4 per cent between 2016 and 2018 and in Wellington the tree canopy covered about 30.6 per cent in 2019.
The lack of trees is most stark in some of Christchurch’s lowest socio-economic areas like Hornby and Linwood, sitting at 6.5 per cent and 8.9 per cent respectively. Banks Peninsula has not been included in the study.
Some of the city’s more affluent suburbs have the highest tree cover with Cashmere sitting at 21 per cent and Fendalton at 19 per cent. The Coastal ward, which stretches from Southshore to Brooklands, has 27 per cent coverage, but that includes Bottle Lake Forest. Continue reading here.
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Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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71.9% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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16.3% Hmm, maybe?
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11.7% Yes!
2025 has been massive. The Luxon-led Government's attacks on workers, on Te Tiriti, on pay equity, on educators, on health workers, and on the public service, have been relentless.
But despite everything thrown at working people, we've also seen some massive wins. We've fought back together with strike action. We've unified with days of action. We have focused on what matters. Make no mistake, 2026 will be wild, and we are ready for it! Source - New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
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