A group of MPs, mayors, councillors and school principals in the Wellington region have issued a joint statement pleading for "illegal protest activities" around Parliament to end.
The joint statement on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson, who is MP for Wellington Central, says the people of Wellington "have had enough of this illegal activity, harassment and disruption".
For 11 days now, protesters have camped outside Parliament demanding an end to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions related to the pandemic. And despite being trespassed from Parliament grounds, a large group of protesters remains.
Police last week arrested more than 120 protesters after House Speaker Trevor Mallard issued a trespass notice. But a core group has remained, despite the Speaker's controversial attempts at dispersing them with sprinklers and loud music.
Mallard on Thursday announced a cross-party decision 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".
A group of MPs, mayors, councillors and school principals - including Wellington Mayor Andy Foster, Wellington-based National deputy leader Nicola Willis and Wellington-based Greens co-leader James Shaw - are echoing the Speaker's call for an end to the "illegal" activities.
"We the undersigned ask that the current illegal protest activities in and around the Parliament precinct end immediately. There is a right to peaceful protest in New Zealand that it is important to uphold. However this protest has gone well beyond that point," it reads.
"Those who live, work and go to school and university have been subjected to significant levels of abuse and harassment when attempting to move about in the area. There has been intimidation to Wellingtonians and city workers, and some residents have reported being too frightened or distressed to leave their homes.
"The vehicles associated with the protest are illegally blocking roads that are preventing Wellingtonians moving freely, including using public transport, posing a risk to the movement of emergency services, and are severely disrupting businesses.
"A number of businesses have had to close to protect their staff, while for others customers cannot access these businesses. The University has needed to close its Pipitea campus disrupting teaching and learning.
"Police have issued trespass notices for those on Parliamentary and University grounds. We remind the protestors this city and these streets are those of Wellingtonians who have the right to access them freely and without fear."
Richard Wagstaff, president of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZTU), issued a similar statement.
"The NZCTU understands that the right to participate in protest actions is a fundamental element of freedom of expression and a sign of a healthy and functioning democracy. The NZCTU proudly upholds and exercises these rights to protest in NZ," Wagsatff wrote.
"The current protest in and around the Parliament precinct however is not simply about the right to protest and we do not support it continuing, nor do we support the basic anti-mandate call being made by the protestors.
"We are concerned by the undue ongoing disruption it is causing workers and their families, including school children and students. The protest is having a negative impact on workers in the vicinity being able to do their jobs safely, and without abuse.The protest has involved harassment of the public, it has prevented workers from moving around and from accessing public transport, it has blocked roads and put emergency services at risk.
"We are further concerned at the tone of much of the protest, calling for violence against our elected representatives and the media. Let alone the conspiracy theories and unscientific assertions being circulated in an effort to undermine our public health response. These are not actions consistent with a free and open democratic society.
"We therefore ask that the protest at the Parliament precinct end immediately."
There is some support of the protesters, including from former MP Dame Tariana Turia, who told RNZ: "I definitely don't sympathise with the Government and I certainly sympathise with the protesters because I don't believe that any government has any right to dictate to sectors of New Zealand who disagree with them."
She described the response to the protesters as "bullying behaviour".
Other prominent Kiwis have declared their support for the protest, including former National MP Matt King, yachtsman Russell Coutts, and Opshop musician Jason Kerrison.
The full list of signatories to the statement to end the protest:
- Alex Beijen – South Wairarapa Mayor
- Andy Foster - Wellington City Mayor
- Anita Baker – Porirua City Mayor
- Barbara McKerrow - Wellington City Council CEO
- Bernadette Murfitt – Principal Sacred Heart School Thorndon
- Campbell Barry – Hutt City Mayor
- Daran Ponter – on behalf of Metlink
- Fleur Fitzsimons - Wellington City Councillor
- Grant Guildford – Vice-Chancellor Victoria University of Wellington
- Grant Robertson – MP for Wellington Central
- Greg Lang – Carterton District Mayor
- James Shaw – Green List MP based in Wellington
- Jenny Condie - Wellington City Councillor
- John Allen – CEO Wellington NZ
- Julia Davidson – Principal Wellington Girls College
- K. Gurunathan – Kapiti District Mayor
- Kerry Davies – Secretary of Public Service Association
- Laurie Foon - Wellington City Councillor
- Lyn Patterson – Masterton District Mayor
- Murray Edridge – Wellington City Missioner
- Nicola Willis – List MP based in Wellington
- Nicola Young - Wellington City Councillor
- Paul Retimanu –Director of Manaaki Management and President of Hospitality Wellington
- Rebecca Matthews - Wellington City Councillor
- Sarah Free - Wellington City Deputy Mayor
- Simon Arcus - Wellington Chamber of Commerce CEO
- Tamatha Paul - Wellington City Councillor
- Teri O’Neill - Wellington City Councillor
- Wayne Guppy – Upper Hutt City Mayor
