Nearly six months after protestors were forcibly removed from the grounds of the legislature, over 2,000 anti-government protesters gathered outside New Zealand's parliament on Tuesday to air their dissatisfaction on a variety of subjects.
The Freedom and Rights Coalition organised the demonstrators, who came from all over New Zealand and gathered on the grounds in front of parliament in Wellington as lawmakers met inside.
People, some holding signs calling for freedom, were protesting a number of problems, such as the now largely lifted COVID-19 limitations, stricter environmental requirements for farmers, and a government attempt to seize locally held water assets.
“Our government, they’re not really working for us,” said protester Danny Hanif who had travelled from his home near the town of Hamilton.
Hanif told Reuters the government was not listening to people on the issue of the ownership of water assets.
Barriers were erected in front of parliament and there was a heavy police presence around the grounds.
Police in March ended an anti-vaccine protest that had disrupted the capital for three weeks, dismantling an encampment in the same location, towing away vehicles and arresting dozens. read more
On Tuesday, about 250 counter-protesters also gathered in a bid to counter hate, homophobia, bigotry and disinformation from the far right, organisers of the counter-protest said in a Facebook post.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters on Monday that parliament had long welcomed peaceful protesters and she wanted this to resume. She did not meet the protesters on Tuesday.
Approval ratings for Ardern’s Labour party have plummeted this year with support in the latest 1News Kantar Public Poll released this month at 33%, down from 41% at the end of 2021.