Dozens of protesters were arrested by Police in New Zealand on Wednesday. The demonstrators had camped out on the grounds of New Zealand's Parliament building as part of the ongoing protests against the nation's COVID-19 mandates.
Among the protesters' grievances is New Zealand's requirement that certain workers, such as teachers, doctors, nurses, police, and military personnel, be vaccinated against COVID-19. Many demonstrators also reject mask mandates, such as those in supermarkets and in classrooms for children above the age of eight, and advocate for more "freedom."
More than 100 police officers from other parts of the country had participated in the mass arrest. Police were gathered in the area to halt the protests after Parliament Speaker Trevor Mallard ordered for the grounds to be closed down to the public.
Police gave protesters several warnings to vacate the area, but most continued to march within the grounds. By noon on Thursday, police had arrested more than 50 people, who are now facing charges of trespassing and obstruction. There were no reports of violence, and police did not use firearms or riot gear.
Wellington district commander, Superintendent Corrie Parnell, said his officers had appealed to protesters to immediately leave the grounds, but some had refused to budge. He added that people do have the right to protest, but they need to do it in a way that does not negatively impact the public.
More than 1,000 people driving automobiles and trucks converged on Parliament on Tuesday in convoy inspired by rallies in Canada and abroad. By Thursday, the number of protesters had fallen to a few hundred. Some cars and trucks remained parked in the center of the streets surrounding Parliament, forcing some roads to close down. During the demonstration, the National Library, as well as many cafes and restaurants in the area, were also forced to close down.
Because of concerns over employee safety, Wellington City Council spokesperson Richard MacLean said the council had not been ticketing illegally parked vehicles near Parliament, but it was evaluating its options to have the roads reopened. The council, he said, was encouraging residents to stay away from the area amid the continued protests.
After immediately closing its borders and implementing lockdowns, New Zealand was spared the worst of the pandemic, reducing the virus's spread. Only 53 people have died as a result of the virus in the country's five million-strong population.
However, some people have grown tired of the constraints. As part of the reopening of the country's borders, Ardern announced last week that the country's quarantine regulations for arriving passengers would be phased off.
