Hot showers and a treehouse for protesters
Hot on the heels of a newly plumbed-in toilet block, demonstrators who yesterday started their fourth week of occupation at Parliament have installed a mobile shower block – complete with hot water.
Seventeen protesters are confirmed to have Covid-19, with three in hospital.
The number of cars blocking streets around the occupation site appears to be reducing, but the campground established on Parliament’s lawn shows no sign of being removed. Politicians continue to refuse to negotiate with protesters.
Wellington City Council has confirmed the new toilets are flushing into the city’s wastewater sewer network through an illegal connection. Authorities previously warned of sewage being flushed into stormwater drains and contaminating Wellington harbour and last week told people to stay out of the harbour.
Tensions between police and anti-mandate protesters briefly escalated over access for trucks to the occupation site to empty portable toilets.
A line of protesters faced off with police on Hill St yesterday morning. One of the men demanded access for trucks to service the portable, and for other vehicles to be allowed in.
Police reinforcements arrived at the scene, and a senior sergeant ordered the police line to move back after protesters became increasingly agitated and began staring down officers.
In an unprecedented move, iwi leaders across Aotearoa – including the Kīngitanga and Taranaki Whānui – united in their condemnation of the protesters yesterday, accusing them of ‘‘flagrant disrespect of tikanga’’.
Despite this, the occupation remains firmly entrenched. There is evidence of further plumbing action, with Eco Cottages NZ owner Colin Wightman providing one of his prefab shower units, on Stout St next to the law school. There had been other showers on site, but it is not known whether they supplied hot water.
Two protesters have built a treehouse in a pohutukawa tree which sits in front of the Beehive. The men, who declined to be named, said they were building it as a platform to avoid police.
‘‘I’m basically building this because I f…ing can,’’ one said. He believed police wouldn’t be able to use a taser on anyone who was up in the treehouse.
Tree expert Brad Cadwallader sent a letter to the Freedoms & Rights Coalition on behalf of the New Zealand Notable Tree Trust yesterday, opening: ‘‘If you have any influence over the people that are building a structure in the tree
in front of the Beehive we would appreciate it if you could encourage them to stop and remove it.’’
Nails driven into the tree would leave large areas of bruised bark, affecting how the tree grew.
This particular tree had been planted in 1920 by the visiting Prince of Wales to commemorate Children’s Day.
‘‘They’re cultural taonga to the whole community,’’ Cadwallader said.