The protest occupation of Aotea Square in Auckland looks set to cost city ratepayers more than $200,000.
Occupy Auckland protesters have been camping in the square for five weeks as part of a wider global movement highlighting corporate greed.
Auckland Council says it has lost $8000 in revenue from cancelled events during that time and has spent $20,000 a week on security guards at the site.
Wire fences that close in the site are an extra $500 per week.
The council says when the protesters leave, $60,000 will have to be spent on inspections of any damage caused to underground parking and thousands more on replanting grass and trees.
It says if the matter ends up in court there would also be legal bills of up to $40,000.
The council says the costs are unfortunate and it wants the situation resolved sooner rather than later.
A councillor who has opposed the protest from day one, George Wood, says the mounting costs are a joke.
"I think the people are being pretty selfish at the moment in keeping their protest going," he says.
"They've made their message pretty well known and I think it's about time that they just folded up their tents and packed up all their other paraphernalia and went on and did other things."
The protesters will meet on Wednesday night to decide whether they will leave the site before trespass notices are issued.
They say they have lawyers willing to represent them for free, so that's one bill ratepayers won't be left with.
Auckland Council says court action could begin as early as Monday.
Deadline for Wellington protest
Wellington City Council has sent a letter to the Occupy Wellington protesters camped near Civic Square asking when they intend to leave.
About 44 tents are occupying part of the City to Sea bridge.
The council has written to the protesters telling them they are illegally camped and blocking public access to the area.
It says it has so far held back from taking action out of respect for the occupiers' right to protest but wants to know a departure date by Friday.
In the meantime, the council says the protesters need to keep the land clean and remove any tents that are not being used to sleep in.
A protester Richard Bartlett says it's not true the public can't access the site - in fact, he says, protesters are actively inviting people to visit or join them.
He says the group will meet on Wednesday night to discuss their response to the council's letter.
In Dunedin, where trespass notices have already been issued, Occupy Dunedin protestors camped in the Octagon have yet to respond to a council offer of a symbolic tent and information kiosk on the site.
