A residents group in South Auckland has threatened to occupy Mount Richmond, Otahuhu in order to protect the mountain's exotic trees.

Auckland Council has issued a resource consent to the Tupuna Maunga Authority, the protest organisers, to fell 278 of the mountain's non-native trees, but the group has chosen to occupy the Maunga as soon as the chainsaws come out.

Shirley Waru, activist and movement leader, is here with us now.

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