Tree case name still suppressed

Name suppression was continued yesterday for a Wellington man charged with damaging a protected 70-year-old kowhai tree in the capital's central city.

The heritage-listed tree in Tory St was slashed in December and the man, with Wellington business OEC, was charged with breaching the Resource Management Act.

He had been granted interim name suppression on medical grounds and that was continued in Wellington District Court yesterday until his trial.

The man will next appear in court for a pre-depositions hearing on May 17. This month he elected trial by jury on the charge.

OEC had already been charged with permitting the partial removal of a listed tree and faces a hearing before the Environment Court on July 17.

That business is owned by brothers John and Michael Chow, who own the Tory St property on which the damaged tree stands, as well as a strip club, massage parlour and a hotel.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of two years' jail or a $200,000 fine.

- NZPA