Auckland Council says the remains of the pine tree which used to stand on One Tree Hill have been recovered after being illegally offered for sale on Trade Me.

The tree was removed in 2000 after several chainsaw attacks.

The remains - which are the property of Auckland Council - were being stored by one of the council's arborist contractors.

When the listing of the remains became known, the contractor contacted police who seized it for return to the contractor's yard.

The council will now discuss the circumstances of the removal of the remains with the The Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority.