Police urge protesters intending to visit Parliament to 'stay away' as conditions deteriorate

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

A man has been arrested near the Parliament protest for allegedly carrying a dangerous weapon as the occupation enters its 21st day.

The man was handcuffed by police on Hill Street for carrying a weapon which he claims was just a pole for his flag.

The weapon was a steel pole. Photo / Michael Scott

A man is arrested on Hill St near the Parliament protest. Photo / Mike Scott

Protesters have spread across the country, with a number of people camping overnight in the Auckland Domain.

A small group of protestors have pitched tents and stayed overnight in the Domain, and police have now blocked vehicles from entering.

"Auckland Council, Police and our partners are continuing to work with the protest group in the Auckland Domain in order to resolve the situation safely."

Protester tents at Auckland Domain. Photo / Michael Craig

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff told RNZ he hoped they wouldn't see a repeat of the Parliament occupation in Auckland.

"What I absolutely oppose is the sense of entitlement and self-given right to disrupt the lives of others to make their point. We've seen that at Parliament and we don't want to see it in Auckland."

Meanwhile, 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

— Fleur Fitzsimons (@FleurFitzsimons) February 27, 2022

A spokesperson for Regional Public Health said in a statement that they are aware of seven Covid-19 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.

It comes as the Freedom and Rights Coalition threaten to "enact united non-compliance" tomorrow if mandates are not dropped and negotiations have not commenced.

In a statement provided to media, the group said they were not the original organiser of the protests at Parliament but were invited to help lead "when the wheels started to come off".

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 government to "meet immediately" with them tomorrow for negotiations.

If mandates have not been lifted by 10am Tuesday March 1, the Freedom and Rights Coalition is asking Kiwis to behave as if they have been.

"In short, from 10 am this Tuesday, 1st March 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.

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".

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said mandates will be removed once the Covid situation is under control, not because people have protested.

She said she wanted people to know that this is a season that will pass - and one day we will be able to look back and reflect.

"I hope the thing that stands out in people's minds is the lives we saved, rather than the differences in opinion."

It comes as protesters at Parliament dug in, with permanent toilets set up at the occupation yesterday.

At least one double toilet system has been built and plumbed into the ground.

A Wellington City Council spokesman Richard Maclean expressed concern it could be connected to the stormwater system, which would mean waste flowing directly into the harbour.

However, a Wellington City Council (WCC) spokesperson said at this stage all indications point to the plumbing being linked up to the wastewater system.

Anti-mandate protestors in Wellington built a toilet block on Aitken St. Photo / Jed Bradley

"This is clearly an illegal connection – however given the volatility of the situation in the area around Parliament we have been advised not to put the health and safety of our staff at risk by the Police who are managing the situation on site," WCC tweeted.

"We also note that the connection to the wastewater system means the sewage is not entering the harbour. We are discussing the issue with Police and other agencies and considering our options."

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.

A group of anti mandate protesters have gathered on top of the central cone at Pukekaroa, Pukekawa / Auckland Domain. Photo / Alex Burton

Police said they are concerned about the deteriorating environment at the Parliament protests and maintain that it is not a suitable environment for families or children.

"Aggressive behaviour from protesters, extremely poor sanitary conditions, the confirmed presence of Covid-19, and the number of unwell people amongst the group all make for an unsafe, and unpleasant environment for anyone thinking of joining the activity," a police spokesperson said.

Around 200 people were gathered on the Parliament forecourt on Sunday.

Looking to the week ahead, the spokesperson said police urged people who wish to attend the protest to "stay away" as it is not a "safe place".

It comes after hostile scenes on Saturday night that saw a man arrested.

Police said a 35-year-old man was arrested in Wellington and charged with inciting violence, he'll appear in the Wellington District Court this week.

Around 200 people were gathered on the Parliament forecourt on Sunday. Photo / Jed Bradley

Concrete bollards were also added yesterday by police near a bus terminal on the corner of Kate Shepherd place.

Yesterday afternoon two forklifts arrived, with around 20 officers. As a number of protesters lined up near the Kate Sheppard Place and Lambton Quay intersection, causing some disruption to traffic.

The situation remains calm, despite some arguing between officers and protesters - seemingly over the placement of the barriers.