A west Auckland man who ignored kauri dieback rules has been found guilty of breaking the law when he went onto a track that had been closed to stop the spread of the tree killing disease.

Robert Armitstead was caught several times on camera in 2019 entering closed walk ways in the Waitakere Ranges in Titirangi.

He pleaded guilty to one charge and Judge Tremewan found him guilty of two others. He will be sentenced in May.

Rachel Kelleher – general manager Environmental Services for Auckland Council – talks to Lisa Owen.