Parliament fully reopens to public, four months after protests

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaking today at the reopening. Photo / Michael Neilson

The grounds of Parliament have reopened to the public today four months after being taken over by major protests with a ceremony to fully restore the land.

For several weeks across February until the start of March Parliament's lawn and surrounding streets of the CBD were overrun with anti-vaccine and anti-mandate protesters who set up tents, cars, vans and trucks - refusing to leave until all Covid-19 protection frameworks were removed.

Mana whenua Taranaki Whānui led the ceremony at Parliament today, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Speaker Trevor Mallard also giving speeches.

Port Nicholson Settlement Trust chairman Kara Puketapu-Dentice said the actions of protestors were a "flagrant disregard and transgression against tikanga".

"Today shows our collective determination for goodwill toward people. Today, we have restored the honour and integrity of our ancestral whenua.

"Today we have laid down our expectation that peace reside over this place.

"This place is for all New Zealanders, a place for robust debate, a place for differences of opinion, a place where our representatives serve us, all of us."

Ardern said today was important to restore not only the physical grounds but also what it represented.

"This is also a place defined by its openness. We take pride in the fact that you can walk through these grounds openly right up to the doors and through them.

"Where we debate where we have dialogue where we disagree that where we do it with respect with empathy with kindness."

The protest lasted 23 days and ended in flames after people set fires on the grounds that spread through the playground and lawns.

Protesters crowded together to listen to speakers during the protest and occupation at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Two people from Golden Bay have been charged with lighting the fires - Jordan Turner-Critchley, 30, and Sarah Joanne Henry, 29.

They are among 250 people arrested during the protest and police are still seeking further arrests.

Nine people have been prosecuted.

Once the camp was cleared it took several days for heavy machinery to clear rubbish and debris left on the lawn, which needs to be resown.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaking today at the reopening. Photo / Michael Neilson

Figures provided to the Herald show the estimated cost of clean-up and restoration works to be $960,000. This does not include any contingency or internal costs, meaning it is likely to swell above $1m.

On Wednesday, police asked the public for assistance in identifying 15 people who were at the protest and are suspected of committing criminal acts at the occupation.
Images of the people have been publicly released by police in a bid to help identify the individuals involved.

Detective Inspector Paul Berry said police were reviewing more than 15 terabytes of photographs and videos to identify anyone involved in violent criminal offending.

"This is an enormous task and while we've made significant progress through our investigations, we now need the public's help."