The mechanical removal of mangroves in Tauranga Harbour is underway. At an official ceremony held on Thursday in Matua, Environment Bay of Plenty chairman John Cronin set the project in motion as the $60,000 piece of equipment mulched its first mangrove.

Environment Bay of Plenty chairman John Cronin says Thursday is a great day for Tauranga Harbour as it marks the beginning of the programme to remove mangroves from there mechanically. See video interview below with John.

The regional council is the only one in the country to have consent to use this machine and will be tackling 92 hectares of mangroves in Tauranga Harbour over the next 5-6 months.