18 Dec 2015

Kauri protester spends week in tree

1:27 pm on 18 December 2015

A man protesting against the felling of a large west Auckland kauri tree has been camped up in its canopy for a week.

The kauri was the subject of protest action and a sit-in earlier this year before being granted a reprieve by the owners of the Titirangi property it stands on.

Contractors arrived on site with chainsaws to fell the tree last week, but protesters managed to persuade them not to cut it down.

Johno Smith climbed the tree to stop contractors cutting it down.

Mr Smith said he had had success in raising people's awareness about the danger imposed by development to native trees. He hoped there would be some resolution before Christmas.

The property owners have two resource consents to build on the site and cut down the tree.

Johno Smith has spent a week in the kauri tree in protest at its possible felling.

Johno Smith has spent a week in the kauri tree in protest at its possible felling. Photo: RNZ / Tom Furley