Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Latest

FIRESTORM: Anti-Vaxxers ‘Set New Zealand Parliament lawn on FIRE’ amid 23-day occupation

ANTI-vaxxers were accused of liting fires on New Zealand’s parliament lawns and hurling stones at officers after police ended their 23-day occupation of the grounds.

On Wednesday, police and protesters clashed on the streets around Wellington’s parliament house in violent and distressing scenes.

Several police needed to be treated for injuries sustained in their operation, which they launched before dawn and was still running late in the afternoon.

Police Commissioner Andy Coster said police needed to end the long-running protest as a dangerous element had infiltrated the group.

“In the last week we have seen a changing mix in the makeup of the crowd … those with good intentions are now outnumbered by those with the willingness to use violence,” he said.

“The harm being done far outweighs any legitimate protest.”

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

By afternoon, the protesters proved Mr Coster right, setting fire to tents and structures on the lawns.

They also burned the slide built to make parliament more family-friendly, sending a thick black smoke into the air.

Protesters became aware of the police operation to end their illegal occupation in the early hours, sending a simple message through its organising social media channel: “WAKE UP”.

At 6:31am they followed up with another: “All who can be on the ground need you all now please”.

They dug in to resist, forming human chains and confronting police at flashpoints around parliament.

A cameraman was assaulted by a protester, who said “this wouldn’t have happened if you guys had told the truth”.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Officers deployed pepper spray against protesters, which Mr Coster said was in response to police being sprayed with fire extinguishers.

“Our message to those who do not want to be caught up … is please go home,” Mr Coster said.

Many chose to do that, leaving a hardcore crew of a few hundred behind.

While in control of loudspeakers outside parliament, protesters played songs including ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Don’t Stop Believing’.

After clearing nearby streets of protesters’ cars and structures, police with riot shields moved in on the lawns.

Protesters threw chairs at police, who say they found makeshift weapons including pitchforks and shields among the group, and lit fires before fleeing the scene.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Protestors regathered near Lambton Quay – the heartbeat of Wellington’s CBD – and dug out pavestones to throw at police.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern condemned the behaviour, while police are yet to confirm the severity of the injuries.

“It was an attack on our frontline police. It was an attack on our parliament.” 

“It was an attack on our values and it was wrong,” she said.

The protest began back on February 6, New Zealand’s national day, when hundreds of protesters took off from the furthest points of the country under the banner of “Convoy 2022 NZ” bound for Wellington.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

They arrived two days later to protest the government’s COVID restrictions on the first day of the parliamentary year.

They set up camp on parliament grounds, left their cars on nearby streets and built infrastructure for “Camp Freedom”.

That included laundry, daycare, food and coffee trucks, as well as crystal healing tents, cryptocurrency stalls, and even toilets plumbed in the middle of a road into Wellington’s sewage system.

To the irritation of Wellingtonians, the local university and businesses, protesters staged daily rallies to shout invective at the government, journalists and health officials.

They regularly call for Ms Ardern and government MPs to be tried and executed.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern isolates after virus exposure - ABC News

They have thrown human waste at police officers and abused children for wearing masks as they walk to school.

Ms Ardern said she supported the police action.

“They have been given ample opportunity to leave … the protest has been at times violent and increasingly fuelled by misinformation and sadly conspiracy theories,” she said.

The protest has coincided with New Zealand’s biggest outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At least 20 protesters, many of whom are unvaccinated, and all of whom are maskless, have tested positive to the virus.

Health officials say their unwillingness to get tested masks the true number, and COVID-19 is rampant among protesters.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press 

MUST SEE!..

Latest

NEW Zealand leftie Jacinda Ardern has hit back at planned Nuclear submarines that are set to roam the regions seas in an effort to...

Latest

A BAYING Mob of angry anti-vaxxers stormed the Television Centre complex in West London on Monday – home of ITV’s daytime programmes Good Morning...