Occupy the Octagon is part of the worldwide Occupy Wall Street protest against financial greed and corruption. The Octagon is the city centre of Dunedin, New Zealand. Dunedin is often regarded as the last bus stop on the planet (although there are probably bus stops in Ushuala, Argentina) -- or as the asshole of the British Empire, being 180 degrees from London. What is significant about this protest, now into its 8th week, is that although the City Fathers had issued trespass orders (no camping on city reserves), the police declined to enforce the bylaw. Usually one thinks of police eager to crack skulls and manhandled people into police wagons, but this time they maintained that the right to peacefully protest overrode any local bylaws.
What is likely to happen? With time the protesters will move away of their own accord as the practicalities of family and jobs become unavoidable. Also as a university city -- this is now the summer break -- the students would have left for home and summer jobs. It is likely that a symbolic 'information' tent will remain.
This reminds me of the People's Park protests at Berkeley in 1969 when after months of violent protests against the military-industrial complex, anti-Vietnam and the Free Speech Movement a park was created. The People's Park was created by the hippies, Black Panthers and street people by reclaiming a parking lot owned by the University of California. Grass was planted, gardens were started, playgrounds were built and music was played -- the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. I was there breaking up the pavement with a pick axe. Did we change the world? Probably not very much, but it did change the people who took part. They never really became part of the Establishment. Yes, many became successful doctors, lawyers, academics and business innovators, but there will always be something slightly 'bent' about them.
Today People's Park has mainly become a daytime sanctuary for the homeless with the occasional rallies and concerts and a place for a free meal (Food Not Bombs).