Speeches have begun and a food tent has been set up at the anti-mandate protest at a war memorial in central Wellington.
It has the RSA concerned, with the group releasing a statement saying it would be regularly checking the site "to ensure no desecration occurs".
"To the protesters we say: 'We are glad you can enjoy your freedom of speech, but please respect those that gave everything to allow you the freedom to protest and move away from our cenotaphs'."
What you need to know:
- A small number of protesters have arrived at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington.
- There were 13,475 new community COVID cases recorded on Friday.
- There were also 17 additional deaths of people with COVID-19 reported
- Location of Friday's community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (563), Auckland (2,392), Waikato (1,182), Bay of Plenty (688), Lakes (355), Hawke’s Bay (712), MidCentral (774), Whanganui (332), Taranaki (526), Tairāwhiti (172), Wairarapa (155), Capital and Coast (876), Hutt Valley (483), Nelson Marlborough (578), Canterbury (2,122), South Canterbury (267), Southern (1,243), West Coast (56); Unknown (5)
- There are 764 people in hospital, including 31 in ICU
- The average age of current hospitalisations: 58
- Locations of hospitalisations: Northland: 28; North Shore: 108; Middlemore: 148; Auckland: 111; Waikato: 82; Bay of Plenty: 27; Lakes: 17; Tairāwhiti: 3, Hawke’s Bay: 40; Taranaki: 22; Whanganui: 8; MidCentral: 25; Hutt Valley: 20; Capital and Coast: 20; Wairarapa: 1; Nelson Marlborough: 15; Canterbury: 50; South Canterbury: 8; West Coast: 1; Southern: 30
- Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible 51 cases / 13.5%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (8 cases / 2.1%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (83 cases / 21.9%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (117 cases / 30.9%); unknown (120 cases / 31.7%)
- Number of new cases identified at the border: 49
These live updates have now finished.
4:17pm - Speeches are still ongoing but we're wrapping up these live updates for the day.
4:12pm - Protester Brett Power, who was arrested yesterday while protesting at Parliament for breaching his bail conditions, has appeared at the protest.
4:02pm - Protesters will play the last post at 5pm which they say is to show respect to war veterans that are represented at the war memorial.
3:50pm - Prominent protester 'Portaloo Phil', who claims he was injured by police while pushed up against a portable toilet during the 23-day occupation at Parliament, asks other protesters to respect the police during this protest.
3:32pm - Protester speaking urges fellow protesters to respect Pukeahau National War Memorial park.
3:27pm - Young Wellingtonian skates through the speeches showing off his tricks before bailing right in front of the stage.
3:23pm - NZ Unite organiser Ruth is the first to take the mic. "I can't watch my country go down the drain," she says.
3:19 - Speeches are about to get underway. The MC hints at keynote speakers throughout the afternoon.
3:08pm - Protesters on Telegram are joking about the lack of numbers attending the protest. "Push your way through that crowd to get to the speeches," one wrote. "Might take a while to get through," another responded. Another expressed how sad she was that the event "didn't seem as big as it should be".
3:03pm - Protesters are urging a DJ to help them remix music, as Facebook keeps pausing the protesters' livestreams due to unedited copyrighted music playing in the background.
3:00pm - A woman livestreaming the protest has expressed sadness as media outlets appear to be packing up and leaving the protest due to a low turnout. "Don't they want to reunite?" she asks, filming them as they walk away.
2:46pm - A police paddywagon has circled the perimeter of the protest.
2:35pm - Protesters have set up a food tent offering water and ham sandwiches.
2:25pm - Nearly 30 minutes in, there's still not many people in attendance.
2:15pm - At least six police officers appear to be in attendance in two groups.
2:10pm - A speaker system appears to be getting set up. There is a large number of young people there, but it appears they aren't at the war memorial as part of the protest.
2pm - Only a small number protesters have so far turned up to the war memorial on a very wet Wellington day. Several police officers are present. There's a number of youngsters.
1:50pm - Here is the Ministry of Health's latest vaccine update:
1:35pm - Families of people who died in hospital during New Zealand's first COVID-19 lockdown have given "poignant and heartbreaking" accounts of the experiences they had, including access to visiting their loved ones or them dying alone.
A study in the New Zealand Medical Journal looked at patients who died at Wellington Hospital during alert levels 3 and 4 from March 22 to April 27, 2020 and interviewed their families about bereavement experiences during this time.
1:25pm - Here's how the overall COVID situation looks after Friday's figures are included. The number of active cases has dropped below 100,000 people.
1:15pm - The 17 deaths are people who have died over the last week.
"Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 17 people with COVID-19. The deaths being reported today include people who have died over the past seven days, including 15 in the past two days. Delays to reporting can be associated with people dying with, rather than from COVID-19, and COVID being discovered only after they have died.
"These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 355 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths is 17.
"Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, seven were from the Auckland region, two from Waikato, one from Bay of Plenty, one from Lakes DHB, one from Hawke’s Bay, one from the Wellington region, one from Canterbury, one from the West Coast, and two from Southern.
"Two people were in their 50s, four people were in their 60s, five people were in their 70s, three in their 80s and three were over-90.
"Fifteen were male and two were female.
"Our thoughts and condolences are with their whānau and friends at this sad time.
"Out of respect, we will be making no further comment. "
1:10pm - Here is more data from the Ministry of Health:
Vaccinations administered in New Zealand
- Vaccines administered to date: 4,025,712 first doses; 3,974,611 second doses; 34,335 third primary doses; 2,584,235 booster doses: 259,029 paediatric first doses and 82,692 paediatric second doses
- Vaccines administered yesterday: 109 first doses; 216 second doses; 26 third primary doses; 2,235 booster doses; 152 paediatric first doses and 2,615 paediatric second doses
People vaccinated
- All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,055,558 first dose (96.4%); 4,002,938 second dose (95.1%), 2,582,505 boosted (72.7% of those eligible)
- Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,420 first dose (91.1%); 502,899 second dose (88.1%), 229,207 boosted (57.7% of those eligible)
- Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,555 first dose (98.2%); 276,413 second dose (96.4%), 136,476 boosted (59.3% of those eligible)
- 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 257,129 first dose (54%); 80,870 second dose (17%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,337 first dose (34.9%); 9,070 second dose (7.8%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,262 first dose (47.1%); 4,276 second dose (8.7%)
Note that the number for “People vaccinated” differs slightly from “Vaccines administered” as it includes those that have been vaccinated overseas.
Vaccination rates for all DHBs
- Northland DHB: first dose (90.1%); second dose (88%); boosted (69.5%)
- Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (96.1%); boosted (71.2%)
- Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.5%); boosted (68.3%)
- Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (68%)
- Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.3%); boosted (68.4%)
- MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (74.2%)
- Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (68.4%)
- Whanganui DHB: first dose (92%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (73.5%)
- Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.1%); second dose (95.4%); boosted (72.1%)
- Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (70.1%)
- Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (94.9%); boosted (74.8%)
- Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.6%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (81.1%)
- Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (76.9%)
- Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (75.5%)
- West Coast DHB: first dose (92.7%); second dose (91.2%); boosted (73.4%)
- Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.7%); boosted (75.9%)
- South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.9%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (76.4%)
- Southern DHB: first dose (98.2%); second dose (97.1%); boosted (74.9%)
Partially and second doses percentages are for those 12+. Boosted percentages are for 18+ who have become eligible 3 months after having their second dose
Percentages are based on 2020 HSU data - a health-specific population denominator. As the population continues to change over time, coverage rates can exceed 100%.
Hospitalisations
- Cases in hospital: total number 764: Northland: 28; North Shore: 108; Middlemore: 148; Auckland: 111; Waikato: 82; Bay of Plenty: 27; Lakes: 17; Tairāwhiti: 3, Hawke’s Bay: 40; Taranaki: 22; Whanganui: 8; MidCentral: 25; Hutt Valley: 20; Capital and Coast: 20; Wairarapa: 1; Nelson Marlborough: 15; Canterbury: 50; South Canterbury: 8; West Coast: 1; Southern: 30
- Average age of current hospitalisations: 58
- Cases in ICU or HDU: 31
- Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible 51 cases / 13.5%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (8 cases / 2.1%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (83 cases / 21.9%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (117 cases / 30.9%); unknown (120 cases / 31.7%)
Please note, the Ministry of Health’s daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a DHB or local public health unit level. This is because of different reporting cut off times and the assignment of cases between regions, for example when a case is tested outside their usual region of residence. Total numbers will always be the formal daily case tally as reported to the WHO.
Cases
- Seven day rolling average of community cases: 14,171
- Seven day rolling average (as at Friday last week): 17,197
- Number of new community cases: 13,475
- Number of new community cases (PCR): 344
- Number of new community cases (RAT): 13,131
- Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (563), Auckland (2,392), Waikato (1,182), Bay of Plenty (688), Lakes (355), Hawke’s Bay (712), MidCentral (774), Whanganui (332), Taranaki (526), Tairāwhiti (172), Wairarapa (155), Capital and Coast (876), Hutt Valley (483), Nelson Marlborough (578), Canterbury (2,122), South Canterbury (267), Southern (1,243), West Coast (56); Unknown (5)
- Number of new cases identified at the border: 49
- Number of active community cases (total): 99,185 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered)
- Confirmed cases (total): 671,254
Tests
- Number of PCR tests total (last 24 hours): 3,427
- Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 26,996
- PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 2,770
- Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 29/03/22): 6.2 million
1:05pm - There are 13,475 new community cases, 764 people in hospital (31 in ICU) and 17 new deaths to report.
"The seven-day rolling average of case numbers continues to decline, Today's seven-day rolling average is 14,171, while the seven-day rolling average of cases as at last Friday was 17,197," the Ministry of Health says.
"Getting boosted continues to be one of the most important ways people can protect themselves from Omicron and severe illness.
"There is a much lower risk of being hospitalised if you are up to date with your vaccinations, which, for Omicron, includes a third or booster dose if eligible."
12:50pm - New modelling highlights the significant role booster vaccines have in dampening the transmission of the Omicron variant.
The modelling from Leighton Watson at the University of Canterbury, published as part of a report in the New Zealand Medical Journal, considered the probability of Omicron infection based on the different vaccination statuses of the infecting and infected individuals.
12:40pm - The Department of Conservation has confirmed it is suspending its requirement for people to be fully vaccinated to use its accomodation. That move will come into effect at 11:59pm on Monday, when vaccine passes and some mandates are removed more widely.
It comes after a thorough health and safety check, DoC says.
"The assessment determined the COVID-19 risk profile has changed sufficiently to remove the vaccine requirements. This is a result of updated public health advice, the country’s high vaccination rates, the recent Omicron peak, and increasingly widespread transmission with cases declining," says Deputy Director-General, Policy and Visitors, Bruce Parkes.
"Today’s announcement reflects the updated COVID-19 Protection Framework and the Government’s change in focus to make life simpler and closer to normal while retaining the public health measures that have proven effective to date.
"DOC is also reviewing its vaccination policy for staff, contractors and volunteers and aims to make an announcement next week once the health and safety risk assessment for this has been completed."
12:25pm - National's Simon Bridges and Labour's David Parker are both backing protesters' right to have their voices heard but suggest there is a line that shouldn't be crossed.
"I think people have got a right to protest. They don't have a right to block roads. How that is enforced is up to the police," Parker told AM on Friday morning.
Bridges said: "I'm a bit like David, probably a bit more on that right to protest side, that to me is incredibly important. Then on the other side of it, the problem is, look actually, we don't want the plumbing and the toilets and the overnights and the violence."
12:15pm - Here's a look at the COVID-19 situation following Thursday's numbers:
12pm - The RSA has expressed concern about the protesters congregating at the war memorial. Here's what the group's National President BJ Clark had to say:
"Our service men and women have made great sacrifices to allow New Zealander’s to live in a free society, to have free speech and the right to protest.
"We absolutely support New Zealanders’ right to protest, but memorials are not the place to do it. War memorials and cenotaphs across the country were built as a place of commemoration, to pay respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf.
"Pukeahu is the home of the Unknown Warrior, representing all those who gave their lives in service of their country and could not return home. We are obviously concerned about how the protesters will treat the grounds at Pukeahu, and will be regularly checking the site to ensure that no desecration occurs, and we’ll be seeking immediate rectification of any damage.
"To the protesters we say: 'We are glad you can enjoy your freedom of speech, but please respect those that gave everything to allow you the freedom to protest and move away from our cenotaphs'."
11:55am - Kia ora, good morning and welcome to Newshub's live updates for Friday.
No press conference is planned for the day, but we will be bringing you the latest COVID-19 data from the Ministry of Health when it comes in around 1pm.
It's also expected in the afternoon that protesters will arrive at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington. They are rallying against COVID-19 restrictions and are planning 14-days of protest across different locations.
