‘Patriots’ keen to ‘get NZ back’ — again
Business owners prepare for day of chaos — and lost income
The group behind an antiGovernment protest that closed sections of a central Auckland motorway last month have another demonstration planned today.
Members of the Freedoms & Rights Coalition, led by Destiny Church’s Brian Tamaki, will gather at the Auckland Domain this morning for the “Proud to be Kiwi — Kiwi Patriots Day and March”.
But a rival group standing against the Tamaki march is vowing to also be at the domain setting the scene for a face-off.
A flyer for Tamakai-led march says the event is to show New Zealand how many patriotic Kiwis want to “get NZ back again”; to “put the Government on notice that Kiwis have had enough”; and to “unite Freedom Fighters across [the] North Island”.
According to the coalition’s website, similar events are being planned in Christchurch and Wellington later this month while a convoy from Kaita¯ia to Wellington, called the Great Kiwi Roadtrip, has been planned for August 22.
Two weeks ago, hundreds of people supporting a similar protest walked onto Auckland’s Southern Motorway, grid-locking traffic and prompting police and transport authorities to close lanes.
Police confirmed they were in talks with organisers of today’s protest in and around Auckland Domain.
Details of the route have not yet been shared with the public.
The group said it would not be the same as the previous protest but would be “impactive”.
Auckland Council has warned the group, which has not applied for a permit, that it faces enforcement action if there is any live music, food trucks or entertainment.
Meanwhile, the counter-protest is organised by Mark Graham, who said: “The coalition and Brian Tamaki are not calling for freedom and rights, they want things to be done the way they want. That’s just selfish.
“He is throwing a tantrum because
If they’ve got a problem with the Government, take it to Wellington, go to the Beehive. Leave Newmarket out of it. Mark Knoff-Thomas
he is not getting what he wants. This is not democratic.”
Some who supported the counterprotest have said they would block motorway entrances to prevent any attempt by demonstrators to disrupt traffic.
Newmarket Business Association chief executive Mark Knoff-Thomas said local shops were prepared for the worst.
He said the last protest had a dire impact for business owners.
“Some of our retailers had a really ropey afternoon, because foot traffic died off, cars couldn’t get in, people couldn’t get into carparks, and the motorway was gridlocked.
“It was very unhelpful.” Knoff-Thomas hoped today’s protest would leave businesses out of the crossfire.
“If they’ve got a problem with the Government, take it to Wellington, go to the Beehive. Leave Newmarket out of it.”
The coalition had organised and supported many protests across the country in the past 18 months, including the 23-day occupation of Parliament grounds early this year.
In January, Tamaki was arrested for breaching bail conditions and spent nine days inside Auckland’s Mt Eden Corrections Facility.
Prior to that, he had been charged three times over his attendance at Auckland Domain lockdown protests.