A wanted man who ran away from police took refuge 10 metres up a tree in Kaitaia.
The curious saga of the man in the tree began about 7.25pm on Thursday when Kaitaia police recognised a man at the skatebowl who was wanted to arrest.
He fled on foot when officers tried to apprehend him but was found a short time later at the top of a tree in Matthews Ave.
He not only refused to come down but allegedly started breaking off branches and throwing them at police officers below.
He then phoned the Police Communications Centre in Auckland to query the warrant to arrest, which he claimed was the result of a misunderstanding, then informed the officers below that he wanted to talk to the sergeant in charge in Kaitaia.