Roads have been closed, concrete blocks moved in, and temporary fencing installed around Parliament on Monday evening as the city braces for the anti-government protest. Video / NZ Herald
Additional police resources have been brought in from outside the Wellington district as authorities brace for an anti-government protest march on Parliament tomorrow.
However, the protest leader says the group will not occupy Parliament overnight and any violence will be de-escalated.
Around 1000 people are expected to descend onto Parliament grounds tomorrow for a protest led by Destiny Church founder Brian Tamaki, of the Freedoms and Rights Coalition.
Roads have been closed, concrete blocks moved in, and temporary fencing installed around Parliament as the protest convoy makes its way to the Beehive for tomorrow's event.
Tamaki, who was spotted at a cafe in Wellington this afternoon, told the Herald he did not want any violence at the demonstration and would have men working as security.
"I've got good people who are doing good security ... we don't want that, we don't want any violence."
It comes six months after anti-mandate protesters set up camp at Parliament, bringing part of the capital to a standstill before the 23-day demonstration came to a violent, fiery end as riot police stormed in to disperse the crowd.
As fires burned on the Parliament lawn on the final day of the protest in early March, fire hoses were used to deter the protesters, who pulled up paving stones from the driveway and hurled them at police.
Brian Tamaki sat with a group of men at a Wellington cafe ahead of the Freedoms and Rights Coalition Protest at Parliament on Tuesday. Photo / Thomas Coughlin
Wellington District Commander Superintendent Corrie Parnell said there would be a "significant" police presence in the city ahead of tomorrow's protest, with extra resources brought in from outside the district.
While police respected the right to lawful protest, any behaviour deemed unlawful or that disrupted people from going about their business will not be tolerated, Parnell said.
"Wellington District Police have put a traffic management plan into effect, restricting unauthorised vehicle movement and parking around Parliament and this will remain in place until the conclusion of the protest.
"Our message to commuters and people who work or move through the area is to plan ahead. While we anticipate the traffic disruption to be minimal, there will be more people in the area, which may cause some delays."
The focus for police would be on public safety and ensuring disruption to the public is kept to a minimum.
Tamaki said he was not involved in that protest, claiming he had been involved in 150 other protests and "not one single one was violent".
Asked if he was going to "occupy" the Parliament space tomorrow, Tamaki said "no way".
"We're there for a day. The police know this. There's no occupation. Any tents that come out ... even my guys will be telling them [to] put them away."
Concrete blocks at the gates of Parliament grounds to prevent vehicles accessing the lawn. Photo / Adam Pearse
Molesworth St is closed with barriers blocking access. Photo / Adam Pearse
The Destiny-church pastor said he thought the protest would end around 2pm but said if somebody else "pops up and goes off the back of this, that's not our responsibility".
Tamaki's wife, Hannah Tamaki, made similar remarks to TVNZ's Q&A show on Sunday.
She said an occupation similar to what was seen six months ago had not been planned to her knowledge.
However, she did not rule out - nor would take responsibility for - what might happen after their protest activity ended.
"Once we all walk away ... whatever anybody else does, sorry about it, not our concern," she said.
Tamaki noted the fact tomorrow's protest will fall on the 18th anniversary of his protest against the creation of Civil Unions, which allowed same-sex couples to enjoy state recognition of their relationships and some of the rights that went with it.
Some protesters have clothing pointing out the 18th anniversary of that march, reiterating its slogan "Enough is Enough.
"It's 18 years to the day. We didn't realise that when we booked the date it wasn't on purpose," Tamaki said.
"We continue the fight - it's generational now," Tamaki said.
Tamaki said there was no connection between the two protests other than the date.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was asked today if police were going overboard regarding security for the protest, given Tamaki had said they did not intend to be violent or try to occupy the grounds. She said nobody wanted to see a repeat of what had happened last time.
While Tamaki might do that, other groups involved could take a different approach, she said.
Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said it was a distressing time for the people who lived around or worked at Parliament or who went to school there.
The convoy seen at Taupiri, near Hamilton at 9.30am. Photo / Mike Scott
From 10am on Tuesday, protesters will march from Civic Square to Parliament before "the people's court" - as it has been dubbed online - convenes at 11am.
Police have threatened arrest and prosecution if those who were trespassed from Parliament in the previous protest return tomorrow.
The district's Māori Wardens will also be present at the protest to help "preserve the peace", a spokesperson said.
Many people working and studying in the area have been encouraged to work from home on Tuesday to avoid the march.
Ahead of tomorrow's protest Wellington Chamber of Commerce chief executive Simon Arcus said there was a sense of trepidation among some businesses.
At least 50 Wellington businesses received relief payments following the disruption of the February's protest, which forced some businesses to close completely.
"There's a little bit of muscle memory from the last protest that makes people anxious."
But overall he said businesses were confident authorities were more prepared this time.
February's protest temporarily closed Victoria University of Wellington's Pipitea campus, which is located near the Beehive, while its bookshop Vic Books has shut up shop for good.
The campus will remain open this time, but vehicle entry gates to the Old Government Buildings have been closed.
"Staff and students have been informed of the planned protest and may choose to work or study remotely if they prefer," a spokesperson said.
The campus' Vic Books store was forced to shut up shop for good following February's protest
