Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has spoken out over the anti-mandate Parliament protesters' behaviour towards police, denouncing it as no longer a peaceful protest.
"We are already are seeing violence at the protests as we have seen this morning… The behaviour, the attacks on police have been absolutely disgraceful," Ardern said during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Three police officers were taken to hospital on Tuesday morning after being sprayed with an unknown substance by protesters.
It has also been reported that police have had human waste thrown at them, a car directly drove towards them before braking at the last second, and several officers have suffered injuries - all amid daily verbal abuse and threats.
Ardern said it was "disgraceful" and "wrong" that police who are doing their job to keep Wellingtonians safe were met with such acts of violence.
"To anyone who is down there who believes that they are a part of a peaceful protest - that is not what we have seen today, I would encourage them to leave," Ardern said.
"Clearly, there are a group who are increasingly acting out in a violent way towards the police officers who are only doing their job."
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said police are taking a continued focus on de-escalation of the protests, with the majority of officers on the ground agreeing that removing protesters by force is not a viable option.
Officers have been placing concrete blockades around the protest to try and shrink the size protesters have occupied.
Police Association president Chris Cahill said protesters reacted violently towards the barricades, believing the car driving into police is a result of this.
"To anyone who has said that this is a peaceful protest they can surely see now that in some quarters it is not and so it is their responsibility to leave and of course, the police are playing their role to make sure that they do also," Ardern said.
She stands by Parliament's decision not to engage with protesters that are "blatantly breaking the law".
"There is a place for peaceful protests in this country… But that is not what is happening on the forecourt."
