Dave Cull
The Occupy Dunedin group remains camped in the Octagon
today despite being issued with a trespass notice yesterday.
The trespass notice was ignored by protesters and not
enforced by police last night, exasperating Dunedin Mayor
Dave Cull.
At 3pm yesterday, council officials flanked by a security
guard issued the group with a trespass notice warning them to
cease camping in the Octagon.
The threat of a fine not exceeding $1000 or imprisonment of
less than three months failed to deter the group, with its
numbers swelling to several hundred before yesterday's 8pm
eviction deadline.
Asked last night why the trespass notice was not actioned, Mr
Cull said he "had no idea".
Occupy Dunedin members march around the Octagon shortly
before the 8pm deadline of their eviction notice lapsed.
Photo by Craig Baxter.
"The context is the council issues the trespass notice
and if it is not complied with then we supply that information
to the police. They are the agency charged with upholding the
law and it is up to them.
"Council's take on it is that council doesn't have the right
or the resource to enforce the law of the land ... it is up
to police and it is in their hands now." The council would
not use the services of private firms to move the protesters,
he said.
Mr Cull said the council had received comments both for and
against the protesters, "but overwhelmingly the pressure from
the community is that they have had a fair go and let the
wider community enjoy the Octagon".
Suggestions from some members of the Occupy movement that
Dunedin was a "guinea pig" for other centres were dismissed
by Mr Cull.
"We are talking with other councils, but not co-ordinating
with other councils." The protesters, who had been at the
site since October 15, were breaching two bylaws, the
reserves bylaw and the camping control bylaw, and had
rejected an alternative camping site at Market Reserve, he
said.
However, that breach was rejected by one protester - "we are
not freedom camping; we are camping for freedom".
The Occupy Dunedin group, ranging from toddlers to
pensioners, marched around the Octagon shortly before the 8pm
deadline, chanting "Shame on the 1%", and "shame on the DCC".
The marchers were largely cheered and occasionally jeered by
onlookers, many of whom had been celebrating Melbourne Cup
day.
Confirmation the police would not be enforcing the trespass
notice was met by loud cheers from the group.
Dunedin-Clutha area commander Inspector Greg Sparrow said he
was aware of the trespass notice, but "this is not a
straightforward matter and requires careful consideration
from a police perspective".
"The rights of people to go about their lawful business and
the rights of people to peacefully protest need to be
carefully considered.
"I won't be rushed into making any decision about what the
police response will be. We will continue to work with the
lead agency, the DCC, and the occupiers to come to the best
and most appropriate outcome for all involved."
Occupy Dunedin spokesman Andrew Tait said the group was here
to stay, and the council's action had helped increase their
numbers and support.
"We are very pleased the cops did not come. In terms of
protests, the city council knows there is public support, the
police don't want to come in and do it, but if they do
Dunedin first, then they roll them up in the rest of the
country."
University of Otago politics lecturer Dr Bryce Edwards said
the movement was an anti-political movement of sorts, with a
lack of structure, engagement and organisation.
"It is kind of the opposition to politics, in my view."
The Occupy Dunedin movement had links with the Mana Party,
the Unite union and the International Socialist organisation,
he said.
While there were many messages associated with the movement,
the growing inequality in countries like New Zealand appeared
to be the major cause.
Mainstream politicians throughout the world were taking the
movement seriously because "the politics of inequality are
becoming a bigger issue in society", Dr Edwards said.
- hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz
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