28 February 2021 A man was arrested for having a dangerous weapon after a confrontation between Police and protesters on Hill Street near Parliament on Monday morning. The weapon was a steel pole
28 February 2021 A man was arrested for having a dangerous weapon after a confrontation between Police and protesters on Hill Street near Parliament on Monday morning. The weapon was a steel pole
As the protesters further entrench themselves into Parliament grounds, work has been going on inside the buildings to reinforce them in case of any attempts to storm the buildings.
This comes after a man was arrested for carrying a dangerous weapon near Parliament as the occupation drags into its 21st day - and as occupiers say they will encourage a day of "non-compliance" tomorrow if the vaccine mandates are not lifted.
And Marlborough Mayor John Leggett says Picton locals are "completely over" a three-week protest occupation in their town.
Tents in Auckland Domain. Photo / Michael Craig
Police said protester numbers have decreased with around 200 people onsite according to police.
Meanwhile, three men were arrested over the past day, including a 55-year old and 33-year-old man were charged with wilful trespass and are set to appear in court sometime this week.
Police also confirmed they seized pipes and plywood sheets, that protesters were attempting to carry through the cordon.
Earlier this evening, Police said vehicles, including tractors, and another structure were stopped from entering the protest cordon today.
"While Police have tried to discourage people from bringing in large pieces of equipment, people have been belligerent and determined enough to find entry points where they have been able to bring in items."
The police spokesperson said they are aware of the toilet facilities.
"We continue to be concerned by the deteriorating environment and reiterate that this is not a safe environment for people."
Just like the parliamentary protest, they fear the occupation will become a superspreader event and have called on the Government to provide more police resources "and bolster our force here".
All staff who were based in the Parliamentary library building alongside Parliament House have now been relocated to other parts of Parliament, including the Act Party MPs and staff, the Herald understands.
The protesters have been camped on the library steps and some barriers have gone up inside the doors. It is understood Police consider the library to be difficult to secure.
A large steel door has also now been bolted over the doorway that leads between the library and Parliament House. Its aim is to stop any protesters who might get into the library from making it into Parliament House itself, where the Debating Chamber is.
Ground floor windows at the front and side of Parliament House have also been reinforced.
Earlier on Monday, a man was handcuffed by police on Hill St for carrying a large metal pole he claimed was for his flag. It comes as the protesters spread north into Auckland, with several tents set up overnight at the Auckland Domain, causing police to block vehicle access.
With protesters still refusing to leave the capital, the Freedom and Rights Coalition has announced it will encourage a day of "non-compliance" tomorrow if the vaccine mandates are not lifted.
With March 1 given by some of the occupiers as the deadline for mandates to be dropped, The Freedom and Rights Coalition are now asking for Police and the Government to "meet immediately" with them tomorrow for negotiations.
If mandates have not been lifted by 10am on Tuesday, March 1, the Freedom and Rights Coalition is asking Kiwis to behave as if they have been.
"In short, from 10am this Tuesday, March 1, 2022, we want all Kiwis to now behave like all Covid-19 Public Health Response Act orders and notices have been revoked," says a statement on their website.
The Convoy 2020 protest at Parliament. Photo / Mike Scott
They are encouraging all employees who have lost their jobs due to vaccination orders to "make plans and prepare to return to work this week".
But Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says mandates will be lifted when they are no longer needed – not because of protesters.
Covid-19 spreading among protesters
Several Covid-19 cases have been linked to the protest, with police warning the sanitation and spread of disease mean it is no longer safe or suitable for children to be present.
"Aggressive behaviour from protesters, extremely poor sanitary conditions, the confirmed presence of Covid-19, and the number of unwell people among the group all make for an unsafe and unpleasant environment for anyone thinking of joining the activity," a police spokesperson said.
Wellington City Councillor Fleur Fitzsimmons says protesters at the Parliament occupation are showing symptoms of Covid-19.
I drove past the convoy today, the squalor and the tents were confronting but the worst part was seeing people with obvious COVID symptoms freely walking around unmasked.
I have no doubt they are adding to the public health emergency and infecting Wellingtonians #GoHomeToBed
A spokesperson for Regional Public Health said in a statement that they are aware of seven Covid-19 cases linked to the protest. Three cases connected to the protest have been hospitalised. Of these, two were hospitalised in the Wellington region and one outside of the Wellington region.
The Ministry of Health has also warned the protest is a potential superspreader event.
But protesters in Wellington show no signs of moving on – on Monday a block of showers was installed near the protest site, following on from the installation of permanent toilet blocks over the weekend plumbed directly into Wellington's wastewater system.
A shower block is being set up on Stout St at the convoy protest. Photo / Mike Scott
Wellington City Council says although this is clearly an illegal connection, concerns for staff safety mean they cannot go in without the assistance of the police.
Protesters build toilet blocks near Parliament. Photo / Jed Bradley
The protesters seem to have managed to get the toilets, wood panels and piping into the protest area for the new toilet block despite police warning on Thursday that they would only be letting essential supplies such as food and drink in.
Marlborough Mayor John Leggett said Picton locals were "completely over" a protest at Nelson Square, calling on the group to pack their bags and head home.
"Picton residents have had to put up with the noise and disturbance for three weeks.
"It's especially difficult for the older residents who live in and around Nelson Square. They are fearful of some of the elements within the group and also worried that the site will become a 'superspreader event', harbouring many cases of Omicron."
Greater national resources were needed to assist the Tasman Police District, Leggett said.
"I ask the Government to consider the Picton protest as a key part of the Wellington protest. Nelson Square is a springboard for people heading to the capital - the two sites are directly linked.
"We need greater police resources in Marlborough - I call on the Government to assist and bolster our force here."
There are 14,633 new community cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand today, the Ministry of Health announced - slightly down on Sunday's case number of 14,941.
There are 344 people in hospital, including five in intensive care.
There are now 17 people identified as having tested positive who were at the protest. Due to reluctance by protestors to get a Covid-19 test, the true number of cases linked to the protest is likely to be much higher.
"We advise all those currently at the protest, or who have been at the protest, who are displaying cold and flu symptoms to get a test and isolate until they receive their result."
The ministry said it was concerned about the spread of the virus at the protest.
