Ōwairaka/Mt Albert protesters have been left shaken after a fire broke out at their campsite early this morning while several people were sleeping in a nearby tent.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) responded to a "small rubbish fire" near the main gate of the Mt Albert domain off Summit Drive at 2.56am.
"One fire truck with four firefighters were sent to the scene to extinguish a small rubbish fire," FENZ shift manager Paul Radden said.
Protest leader Anna Radford told the Herald it was a "disgusting act" and everyone in the group was "absolutely shocked".
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Advertise with NZME."But we are still committed to saving the trees."
She said the police had been informed.
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FENZ would not comment on whether or not the fire was suspicious.
A witness, who did not want to be named, said everyone was shaken and directed all media enquires to protest leader Radford.
The fire destroyed a wooden display stand holding information cards.
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Radford said several people were sleeping in a nearby tent about 15 metres away from the fire.
About five tents and one marquee were set up at the campsite.
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Advertise with NZME.The group are protesting plans to remove hundreds of exotic trees from an Auckland maunga.
The Tūpuna Maunga Authority (TMA), which co-governs the city's 14 tūpuna maunga (ancestral mountains), plans to remove 345 exotic trees from Ōwairaka/Mt Albert and plant 13,000 natives as part of a long-term restoration project.
But the group of protesters have occupied the maunga since November 11, preventing contractors from starting what was meant to be a month-long job.