Anti-mandate protesters blasted Michael Jackson's 'They Don't Care About Us' over speakers and shouted at Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during her visit to Westport.
The small group of about less than 20 protesters on Wednesday also played Twisted Sister's 'We're Not Gonna Take It' and held signs that read 'This is not our New Zealand' and 'I'm vaxxed and pro freedom of choice'.
The Prime Minister did not engage with the protesters, and when speaking to reporters in Westport after being verbally harassed by them, described their anti-COVID-19 vaccine mandate sentiment as "not new".
"Since we had vaccines come into New Zealand as part of our pandemic response, there have been those opposed to them, and that's been something that I've had on my visits from time to time ever since we started vaccinating people. It's not new," Ardern said.
"I choose not to focus on what is often a small handful of people and instead rather focus on the majority of people who have gone out - 95 percent of them have been vaccinated - and that is what's going to get us through."
Ardern's comments came as the much larger anti-mandate protest in Wellington at Parliament entered its 16th day, with police reporting that it was starting to shrink.
"Police have noted a number of people and vehicles leaving the protest at Parliament in recent days," a statement released on Wednesday afternoon read.
A free Sky Stadium parking offer for protesters, designed to encourage them to clear their vehicles from blocked roads, will come to an end from Thursday. The Stadium has signalled its intent to return to normal business operations, and will charge vehicles for parking.
There were no arrests overnight - a stark change from the early hours of Tuesday when protesters clashed with police for the second day in a row as officers attempted to reduce the protest perimeter by moving concrete barriers further into occupied areas.
A statement from police said some officers were equipped with shields in order to protect themselves from objects thrown by protesters. Three officers were taken to hospital after being sprayed with an unknown stinging substance.
About 250 police were involved in the operation to shift the concrete bollards. Two people were arrested for obstructing police and one person was arrested for driving in a dangerous manner.
Police said on Monday human waste was thrown at officers while the bollards were being installed. Police were made aware of protesters' plans to again throw human waste at officers on Tuesday.
The five groups representing the Parliament protest - Convoy 2022 NZ, Freedom Alliance, New Zealand Doctors Speaking Out with Science, Outdoors & Freedom Movement, The Freedom and Rights Coalition and Voices for Freedom - have expressed sympathy for police.
"The leaders of the combined groups that comprise the majority of the protestors condemn any acts of violence and request that police do more to work with them in removing known perpetrators," a statement from the group released on Tuesday evening read.
Ardern has refused to engage with the "illegal" protest, but on Tuesday her former Deputy Prime Minister - NZ First leader Winston Peters - embraced the protesters during a tour of the camp.
Peters, speaking to AM on Wednesday morning, acknowledged the bad behaviour of some of the protesters but had no regrets about meeting them.
"You'll always get the odd nutcase but the reality is, from what I saw, the people that are being gaslighted by the media and dare I say politicians are simply not that crowd," Peters said.
"Are you trying to say that a few extremist actions against a massive majority who are law-abiding and peaceful protesters and for some of them have lost 30 years of their careers and jobs and everything, is to be the most prominent issue?"
Ardern said she would not engage with the protesters.
"Ah, no. Because of exactly what we're seeing," she told reporters.
"I think we have to hold the line here. You cannot behave in that way. You cannot behave illegally. You cannot throw human waste at police officers and then expect to have a sitdown meeting with those who make the law across Parliament.
"Parliamentarians have sent a really clear message that we have many protests that come to Parliament and for the most part, the vast majority that I've witnessed in my time in politics, have been peaceful. Those protests have very often had parliamentarians engage with them. But when you tip into harassment and violence, we cannot condone that."
Ardern was referring to the cross-party decision announced by House Speaker Travor Mallard last week that there would be no dialogue "until the protest returns to one within the law, including the clearing of all illegally parked vehicles that are blocking streets, the removal of unauthorised structures, and the cessation of the intimidation of Wellingtonians".
Ardern responded to Peters' presence at the camp.
"Ultimately, those are decisions for parliamentarians past and present to make themselves," she said.
"I stand firmly on the view that we should not be emoldening people who are acting illegally, confronting our police with everything from human waste to - reportedly - chemicals, in response to them simply doing their job.
"We will certainly not be engaging with people engaging in that behaviour."
