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New Lynn resident Charlie Cottrell-Jury took the protest to save the historic Snells Beach Norfolk pine to new heights on today (September 28).
The Auckland arborist climbed the tree at 5.30am before contractors arrived to fell it.
Bolstered by plentiful supplies, he planned to remain up the pine until Auckland Council reconsidered the consent to chop it down.
“This is a last gasp effort to save this tree,” Charlie said.
Police told Charlie he would be charged for trespassing when he returned to ground.
The tree is believed to have been planted by early settler James Snell in the mid-1800s.
Among supporters on the ground giving their support to Charlie this morning was Titirangi arborist Johno Smith, who gained some notoriety last year when he did a similar stunt to try and save a 500-year-old kauri tree.
He said he believed New Zealanders did not want to lose large, historic trees like the Norfolk pine and that’s what Charlie’s protest was about.
