Red zone ‘freedom village’ asked to leave twice by council – Stuff

Stuff

Christchurch City Council says about 12 people left at Christchurchs red zone occupation have been asked to move on twice. (File photo)

Occupants of Christchurchs red zone freedom village have been asked twice to move by the city council.

About 12 people remained at the campsite, between Brooker Ave, Dunair Dr and New Brighton Rd.

Christchurch City Council head of parks Andrew Rutledge said they were asked to leave on Friday last week, and again on Wednesday after they claimed they hadnt seen the first direction of notice to leave.

We confirmed that we would not be engaging in broader discussions with the group regarding their claims of legitimately occupying the site.

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Council staff, supported by police, would continue to meet with the group to expedite a peaceful resolution to the situation, Rutledge said.

Council had received 31 complaints about the occupation as of Thursday..

On Wednesday, a second car was gutted in a suspicious blaze near the occupation.

Firefighters were called to Stour Drive, in the Burwood part of the former residential red zone, shortly after 9pm.

George Heard/Stuff

Emergency services were called to a second suspicious car fire on Stour Dr (file photo).

Fire and Emergency shift manager Jill Higgison said the fire was well-involved when crews arrived.

It was being considered suspicious, and had been referred to police.

On April 9, firefighters were called to the same stretch of road after a suspicious car fire.

Crews arrived to find a car well involved in fire, which had spread to a nearby tree.

Both were within 100 metres of the campsite, which first appeared earlier this month.

STACY SQUIRES/Stuff

A car believed to have been torched on Stour Dr on April 9. (File photo)

Some at the site are understood to have earlier been at the anti-mandate camp in central Christchurchs Cranmer Square.

The occupation has attracted the ire of both locals and iwi, who have accused them of antisocial and aggressive behaviour towards residents, and of making a clear attack on the authority of Ngi Thuriri', which holds mana whenua status over the land.

The Christchurch City Council declared it in breach of its bylaws, and about half of the group left after being asked by staff.

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Red zone 'freedom village' asked to leave twice by council - Stuff

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