Graeme O’Brien has set up a new protest on Trafalgar St, where Lewis Stanton spent some time during his 18 month protest. Photo: Sinead Ogilvie.

New protester in Stanton’s spot

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Just as Nelson City Council breathes a sigh of relief at Lewis Stanton’s departure from Trafalgar St, a new protester has set up his placards in his place.

The notorious protesting patch has only just been given up by Lewis, also known as Hone Ma Heke, but it hasn’t taken Nelson man Graeme O’Brien long to set up shop.

Graeme has his own gripe with the council regarding his home’s solar savings scheme rate, where he has been told he must pay $600 annually for ten years due to a pre-existing scheme that he wasn’t told about when he bought the house. He says he doesn’t want to occupy the space solely for his own concerns though and is inviting others to voice their views dubbing the hot spot outside Farmers “speakers corner”.

In the meantime he says he is ready to stay for the long haul.

“If Hone Ma Heke can do it all through winter, I can do it through summer.”

Graeme has made his intentions to protest to the council known, which allegedly told him “you can do whatever you like” and he has had one visit from a security guard so far, as of Monday lunchtime.