A Northland cafe owner says she and her wife had "homophobic slurs slain at them" by people opposed to the COVID-19 vaccine pass.
Currently, vaccine passes are required to enter hospitality venues throughout New Zealand.
Last week, anti-vax protesters turned up to Parliament to protest against various vaccine measures including the jab pass and mandates.
Some were angry, with one saying they "don't agree with any mandates that Jacinda is imposing on us".
Kawakawa's Cafe 39 owner Cathryn Baragwanath has too felt that anger - revealing in an emotional video she suffered shocking homophobic abuse on Monday.
"Today my wife, our business and I were attacked and our lives threatened," Baragwanath said on Instagram.
"We had homophobic slurs slayed at us and @google business review… has allowed bullies to ravage us with coronavirus/vaccinated comments; all over not being served a cup of coffee.
"To say we were sad would be underplaying what this attack [has] done to us today. My private phone number was sought, to deliver homophobic abuse and threats to our lives.
"@jacindaardern @grantrobertsonmp @chrishipkinsmp @nzlabour I ask you this; how do we navigate these abusive onslaughts, that are directed us on the daily? @newzealandpolice where is the recourse for behavior that threatens our lives and livelihoods!?
"Please stop with the anti-vax rhetoric and bullying of businesses, who are trying to do the right and legal thing," Baragwanath said.
The abuse came from a person who they declined to serve because he wasn't vaccinated, she said in the video.
"This has escalated to the point where I have been bombarded with messages from his family, his friends - my wife and I have been attacked, our business has been attacked," Baragwanath said, fighting back tears. "I've had homophobic slurs thrown at me privately from this person and his family… Today has just been horrible. We left our home because we felt threatened."
Baragwanath said she felt so unsafe she called 111.
"We're being attacked all the time and today just got out of hand… to the Government, what are you doing to support small businesses?"
Newshub has contacted the police for comment.
The Government has mandated vaccinations against COVID-19 for workers in certain industries and roles, with redeployment off the front lines possible for those who refuse. It also introduced vaccine passes in order to reduce the spread of the virus which has killed more than 5.3 million and infected over 276 million people around the world.
Vaccination not only significantly reduces the likelihood people will be infected with COVID-19 but also lowers the chance people will pass it onto someone else or fall seriously ill.
COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins on Tuesday urged people to be understanding and kind to hospitality workers.
"Cut our hospo [staff] a bit of slack - they're doing their job," he told a press conference in Wellington. "It's a tough job, it's been a tough couple of years for them, so embrace the festive season."
