By Adam Hollingworth and Dan Parker
One hundred and four days after they moved into Aotea Square, the last of Auckland’s Occupy protesters have been forced out.
Police arrested 20 protesters for trespass and breach of the peace, and one for assaulting a member of the public.
The council gave the message at 7am that protesters had half an hour to quit.
“We're dealing with a small group an intransigent group who want to hold out, the people of Auckland have had a gutful,” says Doug McKay, Auckland Council chief executive.
Some went peacefully but others stayed, and soon enough there was a flashpoint.
Veteran campaigner Penny Bright refused to leave her tent, yelling “it's a bloody disgrace, it's a bloody disgrace”.
Bright was arrested for breach of the peace but claimed she never did such a thing.
“I never breached the peace,” she said.
Around 60 police and 40 security guards were deployed.
But onlookers appeared unconcerned.
Most of the arrests were for breach of the peace, one for assaulting a member of the public, the others for trespass.
“[We’re] very happy with our staff who've acted professionally, in what are difficult circumstances,” says inspector Mike McIlraith, of the Auckland Police.
The 20 arrested were all bailed to appear in court over the coming week.
Wellington Occupiers remain
Despite crackdowns in Auckland, Occupiers camped out near Wellington's Civic Square are defying a council order to move or be evicted.
They are the ragtag end of what originally started out as the Occupy Wellington movement whose organisers have long since left.
Those who remain say their resolve to stay is as solid as a rock, even in the face of forceful eviction.
“Whatever the Council has to say they can say it to the toilet, cause we are not going to listen. You know they are the enemy to us. They are the enemy and if we have to picket their front door step we will,” says protester Trevor Paul.
The cause of this hostility is a letter from the Council that warns:
"Occupy Wellington must leave the City to Sea Bridge where you are currently camping. If you do not leave voluntarily, we will seek to enforce our bylaw by whatever means are at our disposal."
But Mr Paul and his fellow occupiers say it is just more of the same toothless Council rhetoric as no eviction date is given.
“I don’t take it seriously at all. I think the council needs to wake up and get off their high horse and realise that we are not going away. Homeless have been here forever, but before this Occupy movement started the homeless ran these streets and they still do,” says Mr Paul.
Only around fifteen are left now and Mr Paul says if they are forced out, they will go to another public space.
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