Anti-mandate protesters at Parliament in Wellington. Photo / George Heard
Anti-mandate protesters at Parliament in Wellington. Photo / George Heard
Police have serious concerns for children at the Parliament protest and are urging caregivers to take them home.
"The site is no longer a safe environment for families and children," police said in a statement.
About 30 children are currently at the protest at Parliament grounds and authorities were aware of a number of protestors planning to travel to Wellington over the weekend, police said.
They say they are working with Oranga Tamariki to ensure children are at the forefront of planning and response decisions.
"The focus for police is to contain the current perimeters of the protest and continue to maintain a safe community for our Wellington residents."
About 18 people, including children, were seen disembarking from a boat on Queens Wharf this afternoon.
Their luggage included backpacks, rolled-up yoga mates and a stroller.
Dan Suter was one of those who made the crossing onboard the vessel Seddon Park, and was taking the sighting of a dolphin on the way as a sign.
"In a way, it's a symbol of freedom. No one's telling them to get a jab."
Suter, from Christchurch, said he wanted to see the protest first-hand. He wasn't sure how long he would stay.
Around 18 people have arrived in Wellington from Picton to join the protest at Parliament. Photo / George Heard
Cat McGowan, 24, was another of the passengers and was traveling to the protest to promote freedom.
Born in Ireland but based in Christchurch, McGowan said she would be staying at the protest indefinitely.
"As long as I can handle it, mentally," she said.
Asked whether she was concerned about clashes between police and protesters, McGowan said she wasn't worried for herself but for others who couldn't protect themselves.
A group of around 18 people have sailed across Cook Strait to join the protest in Wellington. Photo / George Heard
The vessel's skipper, Greg, has been a fisherman for three decades and claimed to know Cook Strait well. He said everyone was wearing lifejackets.
Earlier this week, Greater Wellington's Harbourmaster Grant Nalder said boaties should be aware of the crossing's dangers and their obligations upon entering Wellington.
It was the second trip Greg had made from Picton to Wellington. Today's journey took about seven hours.
Dan Suter and Cat McGowan arrive from the South Island via boat. Photo / George Heard
The 18 passengers had come from all over the South Island to get transported to Wellington. Greg said some had driven all the way from Southland to make the voyage.
Greg said there wasn't a set cost for passengers, it was largely based on donations. One passenger had contributed oil, another had offered to cut hair, others had given koha.
Greg, originally from Nelson but more recently based in Greymouth, said he'd had contact with Nalder on his initial trip and all discussions had been pleasant.
Asked whether he would continue transporting people if police or Maritime NZ asked him to stop, Greg felt it wasn't their business.
"[It's] nothing to do with them, I'm just [giving] my friends a lift."
Skipper Greg arrives with boat load of people from the South Island today. Photo / George Heard
Taking the Herald onboard the boat, Greg said the trips were joyful. People normally passed the time by chatting.
As it was Greg's permanent residence, the vessel was equipped with a self-contained shower and toilet. Two of his children, aged 10 and 11, had also made the trip over.
Written on the fridge by his son was the message "Friendly freedom pirates".
The group arrived on day 18 of the occupation - a day that's been relatively quiet on the police front.
However, Police Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers has made it clear they remain committed to returning "freedom of movement" to Wellingtonians.
He said the protest was having an unreasonably negative impact on residents, workers and students.
"This has been a difficult and disruptive time for many local residents and businesses."
Chambers also reiterated that the protest area was not safe for families, and said it was still far from being operated lawfully.
Children were caught up in moves over territory yesterday as police manoeuvred more concrete blocks into place.
As riot police moved from Lambton Quay to a Bunny St blockade, several officers barged into camping areas and pulled some children out, along with adults caring for them.
The children were then stuck between riot police and a second line of police, until they were let through and able to cross the road towards the railway station.
About five young children were left screaming and crying after the incident.
Some children were caught up in stand-offs involving police and protesters near Parliament yesterday. Photo / George Heard
One was sobbing, asking for her mother, while another, lying on the footpath as pedestrians walked by, would wail when concerned onlookers tried to move her.
Paramedics were on the scene and handed over blankets but attempts to help were largely rebuffed by those aiding the children, still angry about what had happened.
Mid-afternoon, some protesters laid several plywood shields on the ground and practised how they would pick them up if riot police charged.
Some shields had messages on them, including "Make love, not war" and "What about your kids?"
Opposition to Covid-19 vaccine mandates is the most common political issue protesters share, but a wide range of people and viewpoints are present at the site.
A woman peers between riot shields during a police operation to move concrete blocks on day 17 of the Covid-19 convoy protest and occupation at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell
A protest attendee on the steep steps in front of the Beehive said the people present were ordinary New Zealanders.
The man said the mainstream media presented issues in a negative and untruthful way and there was nothing violent about the protest.
He said issues including his opposition to vaccine mandates and concerns about Jacinda Ardern's "globalist" agenda brought him to the protest.
He said this was his second visit to the occupation but before that he had never been to a protest in his life, and he felt it was wrong to fire people for not getting vaccinated.
