Canterbury software company owner Neville Toohey yesterday locked himself on the balcony about 2pm and unfurled a banner in protest over being denied back surgery by ACC.
His website www.screwedbyacc.co.nz said he planned to stay 24 hours.
Dean of Christ Church Cathedral Peter Beck said he he had spoken to the protester who was "a very pleasant person with a very strong point of view".
Mr Beck had asked police to issue a trespass order against Mr Toohey, who had assured police he would not resist arrest when he left the cathedral.
Mr Toohey told The Press his ACC troubles began nine years ago when he injured his back shifting wood at his home.
He made a $7100 claim for back surgery, which was declined.
But ACC claims management general manager Denise Cosgrove told newspaper Mr Toohey's ACC-funded surgery was declined after clinical records showed his back condition was pre-existing, not an injury.
Mr Toohey's website named ACC employees who "tend to shuffle my file about spending lots of money about me but not much in helping me", and says he wants to "bitch slap" ACC's chief executive.
It continued: "Hell, if we can bail out Air New Zealand, afford to give millions to the Maoris and help the Fijians through adversity, why not bail out the ACC Department as well?"
He was also auctioning a cartoon showing a man being "screwed" by ACC, which had 39 bids to reach $20 this morning.
