The Octagon sounded a little like Hell's kitchen on Saturday afternoon as protesters smashed dinner plates and yelled their discontent at the Government's plan to part-privatise state-owned assets.
About 100 people attended the exuberant Greek-style demonstration in Dunedin, organised by the Occupy Dunedin group.
It was one of 11 protests held in cities across the country which were co-ordinated by Aotearoa Is Not For Sale.
The Greek theme was inspired by comments made by Finance Minister Bill English, who recently dismissed student protesters by saying they could learn a few things about protesting by watching the Greeks.
Messages of outrage at asset sales were written on dinner plates before being thrown at a concrete embankment beneath the Robbie Burns statue in the upper Octagon.
Although smashing the plates helped vent frustration at the Government's recent policy announcements for some, it also drew shrieks of delight from other protesters as shards of crockery flew in all directions.
"It just feels a bit naughty, wrong, like the Government's policy," an anonymous protester said.
Aotearoa Is Not For Sale member Michelle Helliwell, of Dunedin, agreed.
"They are selling off New Zealand, they're lying about it, and they're stealing our resources.
"They're stealing our pride."
Opposition to the Government's asset sales policy was growing by the day, she said.
The demonstration was attended by members of groups including the Green, Labour and Mana Parties, and the Council of Trade Unions.
