South Auckland has 9% tree canopy. RMA replacement bills may shrink it further.

Māngere-Otahuhu has 9 percent tree canopy cover against Auckland's 20 percent average. The Planning and Spatial Environment Bills, past their second reading, will narrow urban-tree protection to historic heritage value only. Māngere arborist Zane Wedding says many South Auckland trees were already cut down after general protections were removed from the RMA in 2015. Minister Chris Bishop said heritage trees remain protected.