Auckland occupiers hold their ground

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Tue, 24 Jan 2012 4:55a.m.

Occupiers appeal to the Auckland Council

Occupiers appeal to the Auckland Council

By 3 News online staff

Occupy protesters in Auckland's Aotea Square remain defiant against the Auckland Council which is trying to remove them.

About 13 tents remained in the square this morning, with a handful of protesters spending the night wrapped in sleeping bags and duvets.

This morning the occupiers sat down to baked beans and quiche for breakfast, as they plan their next move in the standoff with Auckland City Council.

After moving on some of the occupiers yesterday, council staff last night put up fences to keep people off grass that has been damaged by tents. Protesters tried to stop them.

Half the grass has been fenced off but it seems despite this the camp has expanded in a smaller space.

Two people were arrested yesterday for breaching the peace after struggling with security guards – acting on instruction from Auckland City Council - who were trying to remove camping equipment.

RadioLive's Hayley Jacobsen talked to one protestor who emerged from his tent this morning, saying they did not sneak in but simply regrouped after being evicted from Victoria and Albert Park's.

One protester, Allison, says some of the Occupy Auckland group decided they would reoccupy Aotea Square, even though the council wants them out.

"This is where we started and it doesn't matter where we go, they're coming down on us anyway," she said.

Another protester, Malcolm, who spent the night outside on a foam mattress, said the group was going to organise more tents for the site.

"We're going to ask for more people to come in and be with us," he said.

The council said on Monday the protesters' gear was removed because it was interfering with plans for next month's Auckland Lantern Festival and the people of Auckland wanted their public spaces returned to them.

Before Christmas, a judge ruled that the occupation breached a council bylaw banning camping and building structures in a public space without a permit.

Meanwhile, some of the protesters say they are concerned about reports that three police officers, who supported security guards on Monday morning as they tried to get the group to leave, were wearing identical identification badges.

One said the incident was "very shonky", while another said it was not surprising that it had happened.

3 News/NZN

 

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Comments

26 Jan 2012 09:16a.m.

Alex wrote:

I admire the occupiers for standing their ground. They need to show the Auckland City Council that they are fed up with this bureaucracy that is ruining the country as well as the city of Auckland. The illegal camping feint the council used to try to evict them only goes to show the council care about none other than their own agenda.

25 Jan 2012 03:37p.m.

Carlos wrote:

They are illegally camping.....kick their arse's off there, the police should use tasers, water-cannon, CS gas and rubber-bullets. Send the Army in if that's what it takes !

25 Jan 2012 03:11p.m.

jan wrote:

move the buggers on they make the place look untidy.

24 Jan 2012 02:34p.m.

grayson wrote:

how there going about protesting is stupid i can tell you what they will achieve in the long run...exactly what they have achieved so far because camping in a park isnt going to solve the worlds problems but dont worry give it a lil longer and they will be back on the system that they so despise becasue its pretty obvious at this point that none of them have jobs.

24 Jan 2012 02:34p.m.

grayson wrote:

how there going about protesting is stupid i can tell you what they will achieve in the long run...exactly what they have achieved so far because camping in a park isnt going to solve the worlds problems but dont worry give it a lil longer and they will be back on the system that they so despise becasue its pretty obvious at this point that none of them have jobs.

24 Jan 2012 12:21p.m.

madness wrote:

Stick to your guns guys.!!!! There is the freedom of speech law so you have jsut extented it slightly to freedom to protest!!

24 Jan 2012 11:44a.m.

Anna wrote:

Why dont these people bugger off and think about what they can do to help out, there are worse situations out there than what they are doing, stranded whales, murders, dog attacks, natural disasters - put there wasted energy into helping others... Idiots, wasting tv time, police time and council time...... grow up and do some good. stop trying to be the lime light when real situations need our help. Idoits!!

24 Jan 2012 11:20a.m.

Chris wrote:

Let them stay in Albert Park, I will have great pleasure walking and stamping all over them when I go to visit the Lantern Festival in 2 weeks time... in fact I might even go two nights for extra satisfaction.

24 Jan 2012 08:54a.m.

Wilbur wrote:

These IDIOTS are a disgrace! It is about time they were rounded up and charged with wasting Public Money and Police Time. Noone who has a brain in their head agrees with what they are doing. Their protest has no point at all because this is NZ not the US. How about these Pathetic, Lazy Losers go and get a job? Oh that would mean work something they are very obviosuly allergic to! I sincerely hope the benefits they rely on for money have long since been cut!