L M Law

I read with interest the plight of the Askey family and their native trees, (Beacon, Wednesday, December 10).

I did a charity Men’s Shed tour a while ago and we visited a log house builder on White Pine Bush Road.

The builder planted native timber on his own property, with the intention of milling the trees and using it for a future house build on his property.

When the time came for his project, he applied for his building consent with the Whakatāne District Council and mentioned his native stand of timber.

The council denied his application to mill the native trees he had planted to use for his home, saying that native timber was protected, even if he planted them himself.

Where is the same protection of the native trees on Putiki Road that the power- generating company wants to cut down because they are in the way?