Sailing great Sir Russell Coutts is hitting out at what he calls "ever-increasing erosion of our human rights" and has announced he will join the anti-COVID vaccine mandate protests at Parliament.
Sir Russell says he's not "anti-vaccine" and is COVID-immunised himself, but is against "forced vaccinations".
"I'm heading to Wellington next week to join the protest," Sir Russell wrote on Facebook. "It's the first time I've ever felt compelled to join a protest."
The Government hasn't forced people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. It has, however, mandated coronavirus vaccinations for workers in certain industries and roles, with redeployment off the front lines possible for those who refuse, to help reduce the impact of the virus that's killed more than 5.8 million people and infected over 417 million around the world.
Sir Russell said he's against "discrimination" and a "them and us" society.
"I'm also against the irrational COVID rules that are currently being mandated in New Zealand," Sir Russell said, going on to lambast managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ), mask rules and other coronavirus restrictions.
"So yes, I'll be joining the protest in Wellington," he added.
The Government is currently under intense scrutiny amid the anti-COVID vaccine mandate protests at Parliament - where demonstrators have now been camped out for 10 days. Despite being trespassed from Parliament's grounds, a large amount of protesters remain.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster on Tuesday activated a major operations centre to support the operation "following ongoing protest activity that is unreasonably impacting the city".
Coster said protestors had "not taken up the offer and nor have they shown any concern for the negative impact of their activities", which included illegally parking cars in the surrounding area and blocking roads - forcing some businesses to close - and reports of locals being harassed.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has refused to comment on the police operation and has said she won't engage with the protesters.
"I'll be absolutely consistent on this: the way that the protest and the occupation are managed is for the police," she told reporters.
"It is so important that you don't have politicians stepping into the space where we're seen to give instruction on that. It's a convention we won't break."
She said protesting is "not illegal in New Zealand" but "building camps on the lawn of Parliament, obstructing the ability of young people to go to school, of workers to operate and harassing those who are wearing masks and taking measures to keep themselves safe" is "absolutely unacceptable".
