Otago Daily Times

Hundreds attend antilockdo­wn protests

- KURT BAYER

AUCKLAND: Police were out in force around New Zealand on Saturday as hundreds turned out for antilockdo­wn demonstrat­ions.

A large crowd filled Auckland’s Aotea Square during the afternoon despite the city being at Alert Level 2.5, which restricts gatherings to a maximum of 10 people.

Banners declaring, ‘‘Fight for your rights and freedom’’ and ‘‘No more lockdowns’’ were waved, while one child protester clutched a sign which depicted Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as Adolf Hitler.

At the antilockdo­wn rally in Aotea Square, the organiser told the crowd he found it exhausting to go along with tyranny and to ‘‘forgo my freedom of speech and my freedom to associate’’.

Other protests were held in Whangarei, Wellington, New Plymouth, Tauranga, Rotorua, Nelson and Christchur­ch.

Police monitored protest events and took ‘‘an educative approach with attendees and organisers when necessary’’, Assistant Commission­er Richard Chambers said.

‘‘Police monitoring the protest action across the country today were satisfied with the levels of compliance.

‘‘It was pleasing to see the organisers of today’s protests made an effort to ensure participan­ts complied with the level 2 guidelines.’’

No enforcemen­t action was required.

Mr Chambers added that while police recognised people’s lawful right to protest, they would continue to encourage protesters to adhere to Alert Level 2 restrictio­ns and ‘‘do their part’’ to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Ms Ardern on Friday urged New Zealanders to stick to social distancing and other coronaviru­s rules over the weekend. She said there would be a ‘‘highly visible’’ police presence at places people congregate­d, including bars and restaurant­s.

In Rotorua on Saturday, many of the protesters claimed to be supporters of the Advance NZ political party.

The signs they carried covered a range of topics including ‘‘freedom is essential’’, ‘‘it’s not about your health, it’s about control’’, ‘‘paedophili­a the real virus’’ and ‘‘ban 1080’’.

One of the organisers, Crystaline Verhagen, said the protest was a freedom march for all of Rotorua.

‘‘It’s against lockdown and it’s about our freedom to be able to choose if we want vaccinatio­ns, if we want 5G and if we want to be in lockdown,’’ Ms Verhagen said.

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