Negotiation, de-escalation only way to resolve protest: police. Video / George Heard
A former defence minister says bringing in the military to deal with the protest at Parliament, now in its 11th day, would do more harm than good.
Police have requested support from the Defence Force to tow illegally parked vehicles, but the Defence Force has yet to commit any specific support.
Former National MP Jonathan Coleman told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking there isn't much the Defence Force could actually do, and the implications could be significant.
"Yes they could tow vehicles but the Government's got to be very careful because pictures of New Zealand troops facing off with New Zealand citizens looks like West Belfast in the 1970's," he said.
"The Government's now got to a situation where they've got a replay of Bastion Point on one hand, and the alternative doesn't look pretty either."
"The Government unfortunately, they've brought that on themselves," he said.
"If they'd managed MIQ properly, rolled out the vaccine properly, had reasonable isolation requirements and made RATs available things would be quite different."
"But they've created a situation now which creates a focus and a window of opportunity for the anti-vax people and unfortunately there's some pretty nasty people as part of that. It's a real mess."
Coleman said Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has the legal tools to act, but wants to do everything by consent.
"I think frontline police people are very frustrated. This was allowed to go on too long - these people are entrenched now, they should have given them a few days to have their say and then move them on."
Thursday night at the protest camp on Parliament grounds. Photo / George Heard
On Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard, and his attempts to deter those protesting by turning the sprinklers on and playing loud music, Coleman said he was only inflaming the situation.
"These people are not going to move off that lawn just because the sprinklers and music are on. He should've left it to the police quite frankly.
"It's an operational issue and the police should've been more assertive right from the start."
'You cant see this ending now, these people could be there in three months. It looks a lot like Bastion Point to me.'
A child psychologist says kids at the protest camp in Wellington seem to be fine for the moment, but has warned against a sudden change in tactics.
Kathryn Berkett, who lives on Molesworth Street where the protest is taking place, told Newstalk ZB's Kate Hawkesby things look fine for the children involved – for now.
"Yesterday there were streams of kids lining up for free candyfloss, so to be a kid in that space - in a generalised sense - will be a great place right now."
"In all honesty, at the moment it looks very fine for the kids. But the long-term effects are something I'd be interested in watching."
Berkett says she's had to walk through the crowd every day and can hear the noise from the camp in her home.
The protester's village viewed from Parliament House's 3rd floor on day 10 of the anti-mandate protest. Photo / Mark Mitchell
That includes at 10pm last night, when another announcement from Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard was blasted through the loud speakers, setting off more honking and yelling from the crowd.
Berkett says that side of things isn't ideal for young people.
"It's fine for a little while, but if it's going to go on for longer, your body rhythm – and especially for kids, for the brain to develop in a really good way - it needs good sleep and not too much tension."
"And I don't think the kids are feeling too much tension, right now, but they could start feeling tension if we change tactics."
Berkett says there are also questions about the long-term behaviours we are teaching the children involved.
"We learn what we see, we learn what we feel."
'What are we teaching the kids – if you disagree with something, then you don't have to do it, which is potentially a bad long-term learning."
A child is handed candy floss on Day 10 of the Anti Mandate protests at Parliament in Wellington. Photo / George Heard
Meanwhile Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association (VUWSA) has launched a petition for protesters to give students back their campus before Trimester 1 starts on Febraury 28.
Protesters are currently camped out at and blocking Pipitea Campus grounds.
"While VUWSA are firm advocates of the right to protest peacefully and believe in the importance of organising and speaking out - our students have a right to safely access their campus and education", the association said in a statement.
"There is no place for the harassment and intimidation which have been directed at students, staff, and the public - this is not peaceful protesting.
"During a time of such Covid-19 crisis it is important that our university community can utilise our facilities and the bus routes in this city safely."
The petition has attracted more than 2500 signatures in the 12 hours since it was released.
As the protest enters day 11, every political party in Parliament has agreed dialogue with protesters in Wellington could not be considered until illegally parked vehicles were moved.
Attorney-General David Parker this morning doubled down on any hope of meeting with representatives of the protesters while they continued breaking the law.
He told Three's AM Show the Government was not interested in negotiating with protesters while they acted illegally, and until the streets were cleared there wasn't a chance of talks.
"We've all got to abide by the law. We drive on the left, we stop at the lights, it's part of being in a community.
"These people are not just anti-vaccines, they're anti-mandates, they've been acting illegally and we're not going to approve of that.
"We're not having a meeting because they're illegally blocking cars, intimidating people, threatening journalists."
Protesters tend to their hay on day 10 of the anti-mandate protest. Photo / George Heard
When asked what would happen if the protesters were to become law abiding, Parker said this would immediately allow for both parties to come together.
"At that point, we wouldn't object to meeting with people because they wouldn't be acting illegally. But at the moment they're acting illegally."
Parker said Delta was still circulating in the community and out of every 100 people who contracted the infection, one would die.
He said mandates existed to protect the vulnerable in our community and most people understood that.
"Mandates won't last forever but we do need them."
Labour, National, Act, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori have all also said the protest must return to one within the law.
In a statement sent through Speaker Trevor Mallard, parties said the removal of unauthorised structures, and ending "intimidation of Wellingtonians" was needed.
Police pledged to keep engaging with protest leaders to bring the demonstration into a lawful state.
A crowd gathers to watch police on patrol at the anti-mandate protest and occupation at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Meanwhile Wellington City Council has boosted its safety presence in the city, establishing a dedicated team to address the operational issues that have emerged.
A spokesperson said they had received increased reports of anti-social behaviour over the past week, including verbal abuse and aggression directed towards members of the public as well as local businesses.
The council has partnered with Māori wardens from around the district to provide more frequent patrols and visibility, increasing the presence of Hāpai ake/local hosts.
The presence and patrols would continue over the weekend, they said.
After attending the convoy protest, former National Party MP Matt King said he was establishing a new party to contest next year's election.
King resigned his National Party membership last week and is a spokesman for people who lost jobs in the military or police due to vaccine mandates.
"I believe there is a place in the market for a party that represents a lot of people that are not happy with what's happening at the moment," King said.
"None of the parties in the current political landscape provide a credible alternative to the status quo."
National Party leader Christopher Luxon distanced himself from King but called for the Government to set a de-escalation strategy to end the occupation.
"National is strongly pro-vaccination, and there is much misinformation being spread by the protesters that I completely disagree with," Luxon said.
"However, there are frustrations shared by law-abiding and well-intentioned people up and down the country about the Government's approach to Covid and its lack of a plan."
On a sunny Thursday afternoon, parts of the protest site around Parliament had the atmosphere of a relaxed music festival.
Away from the barricades, small brightly-coloured tents were packed tightly in places and many people walked around in shorts and singlets.
"I found my happy place," one message on Hill St read. "Freedom over fear" was a popular sticker.
Peace signs abounded in chalk drawings on a wall, interspersed with inspirational messages, a "plandemic" reference, and names attendees had scrawled.
Dozens of utes on Molesworth St were parked up. Some had lengthy or anti-Government messages but others were succinct, focused on an "end the mandates" theme.
A speaker near the base of the steep Beehive steps briefly had an audience but when he started making references to German history and the Nazis, nobody seemed interested.
Signs placed at gates to the gardens urged people not to smoke or drink alcohol inside.
Portaloos and protester's vehicles parked on the corner of Aitkin, Molesworth and Hill Streets. Photo / Mark Mitchell
"Respect all, stand strong, spread love, be free!" one sign read.
A young woman resting in a ute canopy greeted a few police and then started filming them on her cellphone.
Another with two children walked up Hill St, one of her kids with a fishing rod in his hand.
Although most people present wore no face masks, people including office workers with masks on were seen walking through the site mid-afternoon without hindrance.
Meanwhile, defence Minister Peeni Henare said Defence Force equipment would "wreck the cars" around Parliament.
He said it was up to the Chief of Defence and Police Commissioner to see if Army help moving cars was a realistic option.
"Many of the Defence Force towing vehicles aren't actually towing vehicles, they are salvage vehicles," Henare said.
Another issue was if the Defence Force had enough personnel to help out, with the demands of MIQ duties, the mission to Tonga after the volcanic explosion, and a trip to Antarctica.
Ren Haskell from Whangārei told the Herald she arrived with a convoy last Tuesday.
"A lot of people here feel they've got nothing left to lose, so if our car is going to get towed they feel well, you're taking our life anyway. It's a small, material thing to lose."
Local Iwi Ngāti Toa said it did not support the threatening behaviour of some protesters at Parliament.
"As Mana Whenua of Wellington we have watched the protest at Parliament with mixed feelings," Ngāti Toa said yesterday.
"The genuine anguish and anger of protesters has been evident and confronting, and given our history, is well understood by us."
The iwi, Mana Whenua of Wellington, said New Zealand's public health response to Covid-19 was world-leading and clearly saved lives.
"It has, however, exacted a real and painful price for many, and for the protesters, the price has clearly been too high."
