Shadbolt Occupies!

If you were the mayor of a city in New Zealand and a group of 'Occupy' protesters set up camp in a local park, what would you do? Call in the fire trucks and hose them down', the usual constipated conservatives cry (see Keeping Stock or the Home for the Disfunctional, Kiwiblog.) but here in the level-headed South, Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt showed his humanity and went to visit the young Occupiers, rather than his Fire Brigade. The Southland Times reports:


Mayoral helping hand for global greed protesters

A small group of protesters who set up camp at the Gala St reserve protesting against global greed have had a lot of positive feedback - including from the mayor.
  Occupy Invercargill member Midwaan Poloski said yesterday Mayor Tim Shadbolt had visited the group of seven during the morning and had offered a helping hand. "He was very supportive. He offered us a donation.," he said.
  Mr Shadbolt also offered to help get the power turned on and have a portaloo set up, or the option of camping out in a house, Mr Poloski said.
  A stroy in yesterday's Southland Times prompted a visit from a family, who brought the group baked goodies. The group awas also visited yesterday by a police officer who was surveying their movements, he said.
  The campaign started with Occupy Wall Street in the United States and has spread worldwide.
  Protests have also been held in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin.

That's the way we do it!