New Zealand police launched a further drive on Wednesday to put a stop to a three-week-long anti-vaccine mandate protest in the capital, demolishing an encampment outside parliament and hauling away cars.
As officials attempted to clear the grounds, several fires broke out amid tents just meters from the parliament building, creating billows of smoke before being extinguished by police, according to a Reuters reporter.
She claimed that protesters were given sufficient opportunity to leave, and that the gathering was fueled by misinformation and conspiracy theories.
Hundreds of protestors have been blocking streets with trucks, vehicles, and motorcycles, in a protest that has resulted in violent fights, taking inspiration from trucker demonstrations in Canada.
Police stated earlier that 60 people had been arrested and that they had "made substantial progress" in clearing the demonstrators. According to officials, at least three officers were injured.
While some protestors dismantled their tents and fled, others resisted by hurling full water bottles, fire extinguishers, and chairs at police and shouted profanity.
Authorities deployed loudspeakers to warn protesters that trespassing on parliament premises would result in arrest. Some demonstrators were also pepper-sprayed.
The demonstration began as a protest against COVID-19 vaccine demands, but it was later joined by groups advocating for the removal of all pandemic restrictions.
As she saw demonstrators come forward to impede police advances, Kate Siegert, who is unvaccinated, remarked, "We are fighting for our level of living."
Siegert, who traveled 640 kilometers (400 miles) from her home in Auckland to join the demonstration, claimed she lost her job as a result of legislation demanding vaccination for health-care workers.
At least ten youngsters were seen in the demonstration area, prompting authorities to express concern for their safety.
New Zealand, a country of five million people, enacted strong anti-virus restrictions that reduced the number of illnesses to little over 118,000 and 56 deaths, significantly less than in many developed countries. However, because of the Omicron variant, daily infections are nearing all-time highs.
"The harm being done has far outweighed any legitimate demonstration. The balance has tipped and it's now the moment to bring this to an end," Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said.
About 95 percent of those who are eligible are given two doses of the vaccine, with shots being required for some front-line workers.
Julie Thompson, a registered nurse who claimed to be unvaccinated, stood seeing the fires, nursing a sore finger she said was injured when cops pushed her off a park bench.
