Tree protester Johno Smith has been charged with trespass and bailed after handing himself into police this morning.
He will appear in the Waitakere District Court on January 6.
"I fully well knew what I would most likely be charged with before I went up the tree but me standing by and watching a tree like this be cut down is morally wrong for me and I would rather be able to sleep at night."
Mr Smith said he was now back on site with the tree trying to "re-graft" it.
"We are just at the moment trying to re-graft this tree - taking live material from the crown of the tree to try and re-establish the nutrient flow where it has been cut - to make sure Awhiawhi has the best chance of surviving. It has been done before but because of the amount of damage it is touch and go," he said. "I haven't heard of a case [involving] the kauri, however."
