Banned protester can return to Manners Mall

Protester takes sledgehammer to street

Protester takes sledgehammer to street

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KENT BLECHYNDEN/The Dominion Post Zoom

STOPPING TRAFFIC: Activist Benjamin Easton, who opposes Manners Mall being turned into a bus thoroughfare, made his point with a sledgehammer on Victoria St.

MAARTEN HOLL/The Dominion Post

OUT ON BAIL: Self-styled political busker Benjamin Easton stopped traffic as he poured blue paint on Victoria St and hit it with a sledgehammer.

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Protester Benjamin Easton, who was banned from Manners Mall after being seen smashing a road with a sledgehammer, has been allowed back in.

Wellington District Court judge David Ongley today listened to Easton's arguments that a bail condition imposed earlier this week that he was not to go to the mall was excessive, preventing him working on his court cases and seeing witnesses and doing his "work" - which he describes as 'political busking'.

Easton stopped traffic on Tuesday as he poured blue paint on Victoria St at the end of Manners Mall and hit it with a sledgehammer. He was arrested by police in riot gear after being ordered to drop the hammer by a Taser-wielding officer.

He has denied the charges of possession of an offensive weapon, disorderly behaviour and intentional damage.

For several years Easton has protested against reopening the mall to buses.

The judge today decided bail conditions that included not to impede workmen, contractors or machinery, not to approach or accost them, and not to cause damage, would be sufficient.

However he warned Easton, "I'm not inviting you to use your ingenuity to protest."

Easton said he understood.

He asked the judge if that meant he could still do his work - writing in chalk on the footpath - and Judge Ongley said it did not appear to be a problem because that had not caused the damage.

Easton is next to appear on July 15.

- © Fairfax NZ News