While Auckland Council has today issued trespass notices on the Occupy Auckland campers and is seeking a court order, the council remains hopeful that a negotiated and peaceful outcome can be achieved.

Auckland Council's Risk and Assurance Manager Natalie Verdouw says the council has done its best to take on board the group's issues and in good faith tried to advance them.

"Despite our best efforts to work through the issues, ultimately the group has refused to move on. We are left with no choice but to issue trespass notices and ask the court to issue orders prohibiting further breaches of council bylaws.

"The Occupy Auckland group has put the council in a difficult position. On the one hand, as a democratic organisation, we are of course fully supportive of protecting free speech and the Bill of Rights.

"On the other hand, the group has breached a number of bylaws and occupied an important urban space set aside for the residents of Auckland to enjoy. They have also run up some costs for ratepayers."

Council has taken a responsible approach, meeting daily with the campers to ensure health and safety is managed and to negotiate a peaceful outcome.

"We have also brokered three meetings with the Mayor and tried to advance the group's grievances in a responsible and structured way.

"We have shown great tolerance but we have always maintained that the square should be returned to general public use - for events, recreation and time out for everyone who lives and works in the CBD," says Natalie Verdouw.

"This is also what we have heard consistently from the public - they would like their square back and that the protesters have had a fair go."

The group indicated at the outset that they were looking to stay until the national elections.

"We will continue to liaise with the campers and Police to seek a peaceful resolution."