A peaceful protest picnic drew a crowd of about 150 people in Gisborne today.
The Freedoms and Rights Coalition event was held at Adventure Playground.
Organiser Leighton Packer said it was about standing up for freedoms.
"For me personally as an employer, I'm standing as a mother, I'm standing as a pastor, I'm standing for many things really.
"I'm standing for our water, I'm standing for our children, I'm standing for the freedoms of farmers - I'm standing against the ute tax.