Parliament “on high alert” as thousands protest against vaccine mandates
The opposition has FINALLY taken off in New Zealand.
Never mind the propaganda material. This time the lamestream media have to acknowledge the presence of the protesters
9 November, 2021
Parliament has stepped up its security settings significantly ahead of an anti-vaccine mandate protest planned for today.
Almost every gate to Parliament has been shut off – with just one main gate to the forecourt open for protesters to filter through. Parts of the wider building have been shut off and some entrances to the building are also closed.
Speaker Trevor Mallard said it was the most he had ever seen Parliament’s security stepped up in all his years in the place. Mallard was first elected in 1984.
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Fears protest may become violentThe protest at Parliament has been peaceful thus far, with mostly loud music and dancing.However people planning the protest on Telegram have suggested things could get hairier.There are discussions of tradies using angle-grinders to carve through the walls of Parliament, of threats against the Prime Minister, and of a general overthrow of the Government brought about by forcing the Governor General to call a new election.After the Capitol Riots in the US on January 6, New Zealand authorities are very worried about any of that talk turning into action.The groups are also littered with conspiracy theories about the vaccine and about the Government in general.Henry Cooke reports that loud motorcycles are arriving outside Parliament now. Since just one gate to the forecourt remains open then won’t be able to drive up onto the grounds.Evan Harding reports from InvercargillAbout 300 freedom of choice protestors marched through Invercargill streets to coincide with the protest action in Wellington on Tuesday.They congregated at the War Memorial on Dee Street before marching several city blocks, with banners and the New Zealand anthem playing, to the office of Labour Invercargill List MP Liz Craig, which was closed.Many spoken to by Stuff said they were “pro freedom of choice” and opposed to the Government vaccine mandates in the education, health and other sectors.
(EVAN HARDING/STUFF) 
Here’s another picture of the Wellington protest from Sophie Cornish
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Metlink bus services to operate regardless of protestsMetlink bus services will continue to operate today despite widespread disruption to routes likely to be caused by protest action in central Wellington.A diversion is in place, which started at 10.00am and will last until 3.00pm, on the route between Courtenay Place and the Lambton Interchange, with buses following a route from Courtenay Place/Taranaki St/Jervois Quay/Whitmore St/Lambton Interchange and vice versa in return. There will be no stops between Courtenay Place and the Lambton Interchange.“We’re putting the diversion in place to maintain services while protecting the safety of passengers, drivers our front line staff and the public,” says Metlink General Manager,
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A large contingent of motorcycles has showed up and blocked off Willis St. Credit: Sophie Cornish/ Stuff 
This is a pretty big crowd at Wellington’s Civic Square now. Credit: Sophie Cornish/ Stuff A police officer has been bitten by a protester at Auckland’s northern boundaryIn other protest news, a police officer has been bitten by a protester at Auckland’s northern boundary.This protest, which we reported on earlier this morning, has now finished and police have cleared the group of people who were blocking a checkpoint operating at the city’s northern boundary, a statement from Superintendent Naila Hassan, the Waitematā District Commander, said.Around 50 protestors arrived from the northern side of the boundary on State Highway 1 at Te Hana. Traffic in both directions was blocked for more than an hour by protestors and some of their vehicles.Overall it has caused more than three hours of disruption to members of the public going about their lawful business.While the road was blocked police have attempted to engage with this group and a number of vehicles were towed in order to clear the roadway.The actions of protestors required our staff to physically intervene to move them off the road. In the process one of our offices has been bitten by an as yet unidentified protestor, Hassan said.Actions like this are totally avoidable and poses unnecessary risk to our staff who are simply trying do their part in preventing the spread of Covid-19, Hassan said.
Here are some words from our reporter Sophie Cornish who is at the protest: Anywhere between 800-1000 people are here currently.There’s a large mix of people young and old, groups of large families and parents pushing strollers.
Patti Lange of Manawatū is a counsellor at Abuse and Rape Crisis (ARCS) and is expecting to lose her job on Monday, when mandates come in for healthcare workers.Lange said there is a 10-month wait list to receive support at ARCS and the mandates will have a “huge impact” children and adults needing support in her field of work.While most protestors are carrying signs about vaccine mandates, others are waving Trump flags.– Reporting by Sophie Cornish/ Stuff
There are lots of people protesting and carrying signs in Wellington this morning. Credit: Kevin Stent/ Stuff 
Credit: Kevin Stent/ Stuff 
Credit: Kevin Stent/ Stuff 
A large crowd has now gathered at Wellington’s Civic Square. Credit: Kevin Stent/ Stuff 
Protesters seen waving flags in Wellington’s Jervois Quay. Credit: Kevin Stent/ Stuff 
Police are in Wellington’s Civic Square on Tuesday. Credit: Kevin Stent/ Stuff 
Protesters have gathered in Wellington’s Civic Square on Tuesday. Credit: Kevin Stent/ Stuf
