Frustrations are boiling over among Wellingtonians over the lack of action from authorities as the anti-mandate protest continues to grow.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster announced on Friday that negotiations and a de-escalation approach are the only safe and desirable way to resolve the protest.
But Wellington mayoral candidate Tory Whanau told Newshub a de-escalation approach isn't the right move.
"I think doing nothing is not the right move, I think completely escalating the situation is not the right move, but perhaps there is the middle ground there to essentially stop that protest from spreading further into Thorndon and the City," she said.
"Perhaps the way to do that is thinking about declaring a local state of emergency which would give our police a little more power to do that."
The Victoria University Wellington Students' Association (VUWSA) launched a petition on Wednesday, calling for the relocation of protesters camping on their Pipitea campus before trimester one begins.
VUWSA president Ralph Zambrano told Newshub because the number of protesters continues to grow and the makeshift campsite remains, the University has shut down the campus for six weeks.
"It is utterly disappointing and frustrating for students at Victoria University, we are disappointed as an association that the situation down there has reached this boiling point."
Zambrano said students are paying thousands of dollars in fees to access facilities at the campus but now face the possibility of online learning.
Commentator Neale Jones said Wellingtonians he's spoken to are angry with police for their failure to manage the protest, and the lack of protection by police when approached by angry protesters.
"People I know have been abused, threatened, assaulted in the streets around Parliament and the police have done nothing."
Jones told Newshub he believes the police were underprepared and thinks Cmmr Coster has yet to demonstrate a credible plan to contain the protest.
"I think the police failed to manage the protest from the very beginning. When it became clear that people were settling in for the long haul when the death threats and nooses and the signs to hang him high on the front of Parliament, that should have been a sign to take it seriously."
Jones said everyone wants the protest to be resolved peacefully.
"The problem is Andy Coster hasn't done anything to de-escalate, what's happening is the protest is spreading, every day you see tents popping up in other places."
Wellington Mayor Andy Foster and Police have been approached for comment.
