150 at Covid protest

Wellington: A group of about 150 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today to demand an end to Covid19 lockdowns.

The socalled freedom rally — led by political firebrand Billy Te Kahika — began after 1pm yesterday and lasted about an hour.

Members of the group wielded banners and placards describing the coronavirus as a scam and decrying vaccines and lockdown measures, echoing online conspiracy theories.

Others waved proTrump flags or signs protesting anything from 1080 pest control to fluoride to the Chinese Communist Party.

Mr Te Kahika told the crowd they stood together against the ‘‘gang of corruption’’ that exists at Parliament. — RNZ