Police believe there's "been a shift in some public sentiment" towards officers' conduct over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, but "particularly after the occupation of Parliament".
That protest ended with a fiery clash between officers and protesters, who threw bricks and rocks at police while lighting fires on Parliament's lawn. More than 150 police officer injuries were recorded during the occupation, while the police watchdog received a large number of complaints about officers' actions.
The Government on Friday released briefings provided to ministers who took up new roles following the June Cabinet reshuffle. That included Chris Hipkins, who was appointed Police Minister.
The document given to Hipkins outlines the current operating environment, Police's key priorities and how officers responded to recent events, like the pandemic and the protest at Parliament earlier this year.
It says that on top of dealing with crime that is "becoming more sophisticated, organised and internationally connected" as well as social issues like family harm, mental health and homelessness, police have played a large role in responding to COVID-19.
"COVID-19 has put considerable pressure on Police resources over the past two years and has significantly impacted our performance," the document says.
"Restrictions placed on the public meant that police officers that were usually deployed to the frontline were redeployed to enforce COVID-19 related health regulations and other restrictions."
Examples listed included policing checkpoints, working at managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities, investigating potential alert level breaches and supporting mask-wearing. Officers also have also increasingly had to respond to family harm.
"There has been, and will continue to be, long-term impacts from the demands of policing during COVID-19 on our people. Communities looked to our staff in the very early days of the pandemic for reassurance and direction."
The briefing also notes "there has been a shift in some public sentiment of how we police, particularly after the occupation of Parliament".
"The impact on staff, alongside general mental fatigue, is an ongoing concern."
A separate section of the briefing says the occupation at Parliament, which started on February 8, saw 3000 protesters in attendance at peak times.
People blocked surrounding streets with vehicles and erected tent structures on Parliament's lawn, eventually spreading out "over a large area of Thorndon and Pipitea". While many of those present were pushing for the removal of vaccine mandates and COVID-19 restrictions, some protested other Government initiatives.
"Over a three-week period, occupiers grew in numbers and their behaviour moved from being predominantly peaceful to riotous and violent in many cases," the document says.
The occupation ended on March 2 with clashes between occupiers and police, who disassembled the tents and other structures set up in front of Parliament. Protesters lit fires and hurled objects at officers before being dispersed. More than 250 people were arrested.
An Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) investigation is underway into the policing of the occupation to assess "the information Police had, the decisions Police took, the tactics used, and whether the approach taken to policing the Protest as it evolved was lawful, proportionate, and appropriate".
The IPCA received nearly 1900 complaints related to the occupation - the largest number it has received about a single event or police operation.
"Many complaints are from individuals who were not present at the protest but are concerned about police actions or inactions," the IPCA said in March.
"Some are from individuals who were physically present and made complaints about specific or more general police activities, such as the lawfulness of their powers, use of force or particular tactics and treatment in custody."
More than 1800 staff were deployed to Wellington to assist nearly 400 local staff with policing the event. Data obtained by Newshub shows 152 police injuries were recorded during the occupation, while police reported that bodily fluids, milk, water, and other substances were thrown at them.
The new briefing on Friday says that while increasing protest activity in recent years has enabled police "to become well-practised at managing large protests", the "scale and nature" of the occupation was "unprecedented and extraordinary".
"The 23-day occupation of Parliament grounds in February and March 2022 was one of the biggest logistical challenges that Police has seen in many years," it says.
"Police is now undertaking the largest digital investigation we have ever attempted into criminal activity that occurred during the occupation at Parliament grounds".
Newshub reported earlier this year that intelligence documents developed immediately after the occupation showed it was "likely" a small group of people could "develop the intent to carry out an act of extremist violence" in retaliation for how the protest ended.
A protest at Parliament on Tuesday, which saw ralliers set up a mock court to try politicians for crimes against humanity, ended without any issue.
