Nurseryman wears defence on his head

Northland nurseryman Simon Vallings wore his defence on his head as he squared off with the Department of Conservation in Whangarei District Court yesterday.
DOC has charged Vallings, of Maungatapere native plant nursery Forest Floor, with taking plants without lawful authority under the Conservation Act. DOC alleges he collected kauri seeds without a permit.

Vallings arrived at the court house wearing a head-dress made up of kanuka and kauri seedlings, but he had to remove it before entering the courtroom for a pre-depositions hearing on the case.

Vallings is representing himself and submitted that the district court was not the appropriate court to hear the case because the eventual decision would set a legal precedent.

Judge John MacDonald assured Vallings that the case was being heard in the appropriate court and remanded him at large to appear in court for a depositions hearing on September 29 and 30.

After the hearing, Vallings said the elaborate head-dress was part of his defence.

"It's my fundamental belief that growing trees is the right thing to do and this head- dress reflects that belief."

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)