Protesters march on Iranian embassy
About 60 protesters descended on the Iranian embassy in Wellington yesterday over the regime’s ongoing crackdown on demonstrations.
Protesters called on the New Zealand Government to shut the embassy down, while half a dozen police officers formed a line in front of the building on Te Anau Rd, Hataitai.
Hundreds in Iran have died during the anti-regime protests, in which crowds demanded the removal of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
A Stuff reporter at the scene said they were chanting for the ambassador to be expelled. An Iranian flag was torn up, while others trampled and spat on the remnants on the ground.
Iranian activist Mahsa Marks said they wanted the Iranian embassy to know it had ‘‘no place in New Zealand’’.
She felt the Government had been ‘‘very slow’’ and ‘‘weak’’ in its response, especially compared with other countries.
Though united in their feeling against the regime, the Iranian community in Aotearoa had been struggling as the affects of the protest continued to be felt.
Marks had lots of family and friends in Iran who left their homes not knowing if they would was clear the prime minister’s appeal has not waned with those beyond New Zealand’s shores.
Jonas McLallen, a film producer from Sydney, was with Japanese colleagues doing research for an upcoming production.
As Ardern departed, McLallen asked: ‘‘Can you come and run our country for a while?’’
To which Ardern replied: think just the one is enough.’’
‘‘Ibe killed or detained, she said.
‘‘The Iranian community is really struggling with going to work,’’ she said. ‘‘We’re trying to get on with our lives but it’s really hard and it’s been going on for two months.’’
Farzad Parsi, who moved here from Iran about seven years ago, said Iran was a country ‘‘with everything’’ but the oppressive nature of the regime was holding it back. The Wellington resident had attended all other protests in the capital as he wanted to show support for those back home, who he described as ‘‘brave’’.
Windows into the four-storey embassy building in Hataitai were mostly covered by closed curtains and there were no officials visible.
The protesters moved to the grounds of Parliament about midday.
Seven Kiribati and Fijian fishermen have been rescued by the Royal New Zealand Air Force, but a third boat has not been found. The air force was first asked to help find a wooden fishing boat with three men aboard, which had been missing since November 16, from Kiribati. The Orion crew then got asked to help find another boat with four people who were reported missing from Kiribati. The air force found the boat on Sunday, dropping a survival pack which had an activated locator beacon and a note with information about how the four would be rescued. The crew then continued the search for the first fishing boat. Despite extensive efforts they were unable to find it. On Tuesday, the crew received its third request to search for a fishing boat reported overdue after departing Gau Island for Suva, Fiji, on Saturday. On Wednesday, the boat was found drifting about 40 nautical miles to the southeast of Kadavu Island. ‘‘The three people aboard appeared well and waved at the crew.’’ The air force dropped a pack with a beacon and radio to the people and Fiji police sent a boat to rescue them.
The number of students sent home from school has increased by 15% in the past five years, with more than 19,500 stand-downs so far this year, government data shows. However, a youth expert suspects the true number could be higher, saying schools sometimes stand down and suspend students off the books. August saw 3500 stand-downs across primary and secondary schools – the highest number in any month since 2017. Oscar*, (name changed) an 11-year-old with autism, anxiety and ADHD, was stood down twice in 2021 before he was kicked out of his school. Annebelle Leyden, Oscar’s mother, said the transition back to school after lockdown was made more difficult by bullying. Leyden didn’t believe stand-downs, suspensions and exclusions should exist: ‘‘I think they’re so damaging.’’