A do-it-yourself guide to replanting the hill

When Paul Holmes made his abortive bid to replant One Tree Hill, he merely went about it the wrong way. Picture / Greg Bowker

Auckland civic leaders may have given the impression that the city council has exclusive rights to tree-planting on One Tree Hill, but don't be fooled.

Anyone can apply to legally plant a tree on the summit but rather than a bucket of compost, you will need buckets of money and plenty of spare time.

Strong negotiation skills would also help for all those "stakeholder" meetings, as would a working knowledge of the council's Resource Management Act land use resource consent application procedures. With a few years to dedicate yourself to the task, you might even beat the council to it.

Here's how:

* Fill out resource consent application form 9, available online or at council offices.

* Familiarise yourself with Auckland City's District Plan, particularly section 5c on "heritage" (the summit is a historic site).

* Begin preparing an Assessment of Environment Effects (AEE), outlining the impact your tree will have on soil erosion, cultural and spiritual values, significant sites, neighbours, traffic and visual sight lines. Play up the good bits by, say, offering to plant a tree attractive to native birds.

* Contact stakeholders, including, but not necessarily limited to, Ngati Whatua and other iwi, the Historic Places Trust, the council's heritage and recreation and community services departments and neighbours.

* If anyone agrees to your plan, get it in writing and include with the AEE.

* The council will publicly notify the application within 10 days of receiving it because it is "non-complying" under the district plan. When hundreds of submissions turn up opposing it, hire a planner, geologist, arborist, horticulturalist, botanist, archaeologist and anyone else you might need for a public hearing.

* Within 55 days, the public hearing will take place before independent commissioners. Ngati Whatua kaumatua supporting your proposal would be handy here.

* Up to 15 days later, your application will be turned down.

* Prepare to appeal to the Environment Court. Seek further meetings with Ngati Whatua, the Historic Places Trust and council staff.

* Attend Environment Court "mediation" meetings.

* Attend a full hearing at the Environment Court up to six months later.

* When the judge turns you down, refuse to pay costs and prepare an appeal to the Supreme Court.

* When the appeal is denied, modify your proposal and go back to the beginning.