Standing up to chair ‘injustice’ at cafe

Chairs were in abundance at a Central Otago cafe that up until last Tuesday had been forced to operate with only 12 inside seats. About 40 people met at the Black Rabbit Kitchen & Bar in Bannockburn, near Cromwell, on Friday for ‘‘New Zealand’s first BYO chair lunchtime coffee protest’’. The ‘‘peaceful’’ and ‘‘civilised’’ event was organised in support of the cafe co-owners Jimmy Fairweather, 34, and Katie Funnell, 28, after it was revealed the cafe was operating in breach of its resource consent by having seating for more than 12 people inside and 12 people outside. Council staff made the couple remove the excess chairs at the start of Labour Weekend. This Thursday the couple meet with the council to find a solution.