Eleven protesters have been arrested following passenger rail protest action that blocked the southbound lanes of Transmission Gully.
Inspector Nick Thom said police were notified of the action at about 7:30am on Wednesday morning, after two vans carrying protesters stopped and blocked traffic.
"Acts like this are not lawful, and put the lives of the protesters and other motorists at risk."
Insp Thom said some protesters glued their hands to the road causing further delays to commuting traffic, Isnp Thom added traffic began to flow from about 9am.
The 11 arrested protesters have been charged with trespass and criminal nuisance and will appear in the Porirua District Court today.
It comes after a week of protests last week and again on Tuesday, where protesters were arrested for abseiling from the top of the Mt Victoria Tunnel, forcing its closure.
Spokesperson for Restore Passenger Rail Rosemary Penwarden said protesters from the ages of 21 to 81 are sitting on the motorway, calling on the Government to take urgent climate action.
"The Government’s failure to respond to the climate crisis is an act of complete neglect for future generations. Restoring an affordable network of passenger trains in Aotearoa is a basic first step."
Penwarden added motorways like Transmission Gully have been prioritised over affordable public transport.
"For $1.5 billion we could electrify most of the North Island rail tracks and buy the electric trains to run on them."
"Transmission Gully encourages more and faster cars and discourages public transport. Affordable passenger rail will bring emissions down, bring us together, get us out of cars and planes and make life easier and more affordable for all," Penwarden added.
James Cockle who is blocking parts of Transmission Gully acknowledged the group's actions were "extreme but so is the total breakdown of the earth’s climate system".
"The Government’s inaction on climate change risks all the people and places that we love. We need them to do the right thing."
Commuter Tayla Capazorio told Newshub she was stuck in front of protesters for only five minutes.
"I managed to make it out, someone in front of me jumped into their van and moved it, he and I were the only ones to make it past before they coned off the road."
