A property developer in New Zealand has been jailed for two-and-a-half months for damaging native trees.

Augustine Lau, who has previously come under fire for multiple issues at his building sites throughout Auckland, appeared in the Auckland District Court for sentencing this week.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of using land in contravention of regional and district rules under the Resource Management Act.

Auckland Council said he damaged seven protected native trees – six pōhutukawa and one totara – at a Waiwera property, despite multiple warnings to stop.

Judge Paul Kellar said Lau’s purpose in damaging the trees was financial gain, because the views resulting from removal of the trees would have significantly enhanced the value of the property.

It was “hard to imagine a more deliberate case”, he said.

Property lawyer Tim Lewis told Stuff he had seen numerous instances of Auckland developers removing or damaging native trees, but had never seen anyone imprisoned for it.

“I guess the council is trying to send a bit of a message on that front,” he said.

“I think it’s a good thing, because we need to be preserving our native environment – enough of this has happened over the years that it’s good to see the council taking it seriously.”