NZ protesters labelled ‘irresponsible’
Thousands of protesters who flouted social distancing rules have been labelled ‘‘irresponsible’’ by the Government, but ministers are divided on whether the organisers should be prosecuted.
Protests against police brutality in New Zealand, echoing the widespread protests and riots taking place in major US cities sparked by the killing of a Minneapolis man, George Floyd, were joined by thousands of people standing shoulder-toshoulder on Monday, breaching social distancing rules.
There has been mounting pressure for New Zealand, which has counted 11 days without a new case of Covid-19, to lessen restrictions and move to alert level 1. Imagery of protests held in Auckland and Wellington on Monday has frustrated critics of the remaining restrictions, with some saying the organisers should be held accountable arranging the protests.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the protests breached social distancing rules, but would not be drawn on whether organisers should be prosecuted. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has said he would like to see the organisers prosecuted.
Police Minister Stuart Nash yesterday said, while he sympathised with the protest’s cause, he also sympathised with the need to follow the restrictions.
‘‘To have this sort of thing happen, I think, is irresponsible ... We are where we are because people have been very, very good about obeying the rules, to some at great cost to themselves – so this was very disappointing.’’
Nash said the police commissioner would receive a report about the police’s Armed Response Team trial, which the protesters had taken issue with. He said whether the armed police teams should continue was a matter for police.
He said there was no institutional racism in New Zealand police, but there was a need to address unconscious bias.
‘‘Racism is a belief system, whereas unconscious bias is a series of experiences that may cloud someone’s view of certain circumstances or people ... This is why the previous commissioner, himself, instigated training for new constables to recognise unconscious bias.’’
Ardern yesterday, said she understood the ‘‘sentiment and the urgency’’ expressed by the protesters, though she could not condone the protests.
‘‘Many New Zealanders have sacrificed an enormous amount, and we continue to expect that of our team for everyone,’’ she said.