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Protesters return to Aotea Square - Source: ONE News -
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Auckland Council is going back to court to seek fresh orders to remove the remaining Occupy Auckland campers from Aotea Square.
Around 30 protesters have moved back into Aotea Square and the council is heading back to the District Court on February 2 in another bid to oust them.
The council is seeking permission for orders for the removal of tents and other structures housing the campers and for the arrest and committal of the remaining protesters who refuse to leave of their own accord.
But the council says it remains hopeful that the protesters will leave voluntarily before the next court hearing and return Auckland's public spaces to the people.
The campers have been residing in Aotea Square since October 15,
disrupting numerous public events which would have been hosted in
the square.
Last month Auckland District Court issued an order that the
protesters should cease residing in Aotea Square and also remove
the various illegal structures they had been living in since
October 15.
The council moved to evict the protesters after they had spent more than 100 days camped out by the Town Hall, and more recently in other locations around the central city.
Cars, tents and camping gear were removed from sites at Aotea Square, Albert Park, Victoria Park, and outside council premises at 360 Queen St yesterday.
A fence has been put up in Aotea Square to protect an area of grass, but protesters have this morning set up camp around the barrier, with around 10 tents.
"We are pleased with the way things went yesterday - our staff and contractors did a good job under challenging circumstances," council chief executive Doug McKay said.
"It's now time for the remaining few to move on. The overwhelming feedback we are getting from Aucklanders is that they are very pleased their council has acted and they are getting their parks back."
Protester John Minto told TV ONE's Breakfast the council's actions have not put off campaigners. "When I left last night there were more people arriving and there is a substantial camp there now," he said.
Minto said he thought the protest had been successful in shaping public opinion.
"No one ever thought a few tents in Aotea Square was going to bring the end of global capitalism.
"But I think what it's done is highlight the issues of inequality, like here in New Zealand where we have 1% of the population which owns more than three times what the poorest 50% own."
Police under investigation
Three police officers are under investigation after they allegedly wore matching identification numbers, during yesterday's action to remove the occupy protesters from Auckland's Aotea Square.
The Human Rights Foundation says it is worrying if police officers are not properly identifying themselves.
Chairman Tim McBride has written a paper on police identification for the Law Society.
He says it was hot topic during the 1981 Springbok tour where frequently police were unable to be identified.
McBride says if this allegation is found to be true then it's very troubling as its police policy for each officer to wear their own identification number.
Council mandate
Auckland Council says a High Court injunction issued gave it the mandate to move against Occupy Auckland protesters.
A court ruling delivered just before Christmas allows council staff to enforce an overnight camping ban. After more legal advice, the decision was made to move in yesterday.
Acting area commander Mike McIlriath said the council initiated the removal of protesters under the Local Government Act.
"It's a council-led operation," he said. "The police effort here is to ensure that they can go about their business."
He said the police were there to ensure the council could carry out any enforcement, but also to ensure people are able to protest peacefully, as stated in the Bill of Rights.
Dunedin protesters return
Meanwhile, a sole tent is back on the grass in the upper Octagon in Dunedin's CBD.
Protesters have managed to set up a tent inside an area cordoned off by the Dunedin City Council.
The protesters have been given a formal warning by a security guard acting on behalf of the council that they must move by the end of the day.
However the protesters say they will not budge.
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