Auckland Police say they expect "a number of people" will be prosecuted for entering the motorway system during today's protest.
In a statement on Friday, the Freedom and Rights Coalition said it had planned marches in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on Saturday against "the declining quality of life and the incompetence of this Government".
The group is linked to Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki. Tamaki is known for his involvement in controversial anti-lockdown protests during last year's Delta outbreak and his vocal opposition to COVID-19 mandates.
On Saturday around 1000 people marched from Pukeawa/Auckland Domain to Newmarket and back again, blocking the Southern Motorway between Khyber Pass and Gillies Avenue.
"While the protestors were walking on the motorway our priority was to actively police their movements to ensure the safety of everyone," Auckland Central Area Commander Graeme Anderson said in a statement.
"Now the protest has concluded, we will review the actions of those involved with a view to prosecution for being on the motorway."
The protesters on the motorway were seen carrying a large banner that said: "Labour must go", and stopped and performed a haka with trucks tooting as they went past on southbound lanes.
A Newshub reporter at the scene said protestors in vehicles on the south side of the motorway then started intentionally driving slowly and holding up traffic.
Protesters then exited at the Gillies Ave off-ramp at around 12pm before rejoining the motorway heading northbound, blocking traffic heading into the city.
As well as the offence of pedestrians on the motorway, police said they were concerned by poor driving decisions by motorists - including motorcyclists without helmets, children riding in the back of a ute, and at least one pedestrian who put themselves at "significant risk" by moving into a live traffic lane.
"While the organisers put out a press release the night before, they refused to engage with Auckland Police prior to the protest to provide detail about their intended route and did not divulge this information until the protest began," said Inspt Anderson.
"This was extremely disappointing as it meant our staff and Waka Kotahi had to move quickly to keep all road users in the area safe.
"This was reckless behaviour on part of the organisers and participants. I don't know why they would think this was a safe act to undertake, and it had the added consequence of causing disruption to members of the community who were just trying to go about their day."
Approximately 200 protesters gathered in Christchurch and a similar number in Wellington.
There were no arrests in Christchurch and one person will be summoned in Wellington for a driving-related matter.
