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Hundreds have joined Brian Tamaki for a rally in support of Israel on the front lawn of Parliament.
The Destiny Church leader and his wife Hannah held the demonstration in Wellington, calling on the government to stand with Israel following the October 7 attack by Palestine militant group Hamas.
Pro-Palestinian supporters gathered outside the Supreme Court to hold a counter-protest but dispersed before Tamaki got up to speak.
Tamaki and his following sung both the Israeli and New Zealand national anthems before presenting a petition to Parliament and performing a haka.
Act MP Simon Court accepted the petition and thanked Tamaki for bringing it to him.
Tamaki praised Act and David Seymour specifically for being on “the right side of history”. Court told Tamaki the Jewish community appreciates what he is doing, and for standing up for them.
Act MP Simon Court accepts the petition from Brian Tamaki in front of Parliament. Photo / Vita Molyneux
The pro-Palestinian Hope Not Hate rally, organised by the Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition, was held outside the Supreme Court on the corner of Lambton Quay and Whitmore St at midday, with music and speeches offering support for Palestine.
Both protests have coincided with the Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s graduation parade, which began at 1pm. A spokesperson for the university said they are in “close touch” with police and security in regards to the protests.
“Our security team has a comprehensive plan to ensure a successful parade for our graduates.”
Following Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel, in which at least 1200 people were killed, Israel’s allies have defended the country’s right to protect itself. But now into the third month of the war, there are growing differences over how Israel should conduct its fight.
More than 11,070 Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and minors, have been killed since the war began, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilian and militant deaths. About 2700 people have been reported missing and are thought to be possibly trapped or dead under the rubble of destroyed buildings.
What are people protesting in Wellington?
It follows a pro-Palestine rally which was held on Monday in Wellington, after another nationwide protest organised by Te Pāti Māori, which was in response to the Act Party’s bid to redefine Treaty principles, the planned scrapping of the Māori Health Authority, Oranga Tamariki policies and the repealing of smokefree laws.
National Māori Action Day protesters at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The protest also follows an incident on Monday where several schools in Wellington were locked down after the discovery of suspicious packages outside the Israeli and United States embassies in Wellington.
A police spokesperson confirmed they were alerted to the first package outside the US Embassy on Fitzherbert Tce at 1.40pm and a second outside the Israeli Embassy on Brandon St at 1.50pm. Stuff has reported it understands a fake baby covered in blood was left outside the Israeli Embassy.
A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy could not confirm any details of what the package was.
Police officers cordoned off streets after the suspicious packages were discovered. Photo / Mark Mitchell
What to know about today’s Wellington protest
Key details for this afternoon’s protest action:
When is it happening: Counter-protest begins at 12pm, Brian Tamaki supporters to begin gathering at Parliament from12.30pm.
Where is it happening: Parliament lawn, and the corner of Lambton Quay and Whitmore St.
Who is gathering: Brian Tamaki and supporters including Destiny’s Church, and the Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition with its supporters.
Why are they there: Tamaki is there to show support for Israel, and to call on MPs in Parliament to do the same, while Pōneke Anti-Facist Coalition is there to counter Tamaki’s rhetoric.
Vita Molyneux is a Wellington-based journalist who covers breaking news and stories from the capital. She has been a journalist since 2018 and joined the Herald in 2021.
