About 10 people walked into the Dunedin mall at 2.30pm yesterday and began spreading dozens of copies of the *INK entertainment guide around the mall, placing them in plants and on tables.
Their brief stunt - watched by a few bemused shop owners and customers - came after *INK publisher Carmen Norgate was last week threatened with a five-year trespass order unless she stopped distributing her guide in the mall.
Ms Norgate responded by placing the email from mall general manager Simon Eddy on Facebook and organising yesterday's performance, but word also spread to Mr Eddy, and four security guards, one more than usual, were waiting when the group arrived.
Two uniformed police officers were also patrolling.
The group's performance passed peacefully, with one member escorted out by a guard after trying to film the event, while other guards quickly collected the guides.
Ms Norgate, a freelance graphic designer, said she had been surprised by the "harsh" tone of Mr Eddy's email, and wanted to make a point.
She distributed 1000 guides each week around 120 premises in Dunedin, and said it did not generate a profit or complaints.
"I don't want to deliver in the Golden Centre from now on, but I just wanted to tell them, `Hey, we don't actually care'."
Mr Eddy was unrepentant, saying the distributors were "essentially littering" and "frankly childish".
"We don't allow, as no shopping centre in New Zealand does, distribution of unsolicited publications throughout our premises."
He rejected any suggestion the mall was not community-minded, pointing to this month's concert to raise money for Canterbury earthquake relief.
There were no plans to issue trespass notices against those involved yesterday, and a distribution point for the guide could be discussed if an approach was made in future, he said.
