Vaccine mandates: convoy gathers at parliament

Protesters who gathered outside Parliament were carrying flags and signs. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver.

Dozens of vehicles from a convoy protesting against Covid-19 restrictions have arrived at Parliament.

Protesters carrying flags and signs saying their rights are being breached, have begun to gather.

They are demanding an end to all mandates and Covid-19 restrictions, and what they see is media censorship of their views.

More vehicles were on the highway north of Wellington.

Waikanae resident Tim Costley was travelling north of Wellington and says there are a "couple of thousand" vehicles from Ohau to Waiterere Beach which all but stopped south-bound traffic near Levin.

"They're bumper-to-bumper the whole way through to Levin, you just can't drive south on Oxford Street, the main road, at all.

"They've all got flags and signs - it's big.

Wellington City Council says commuters should avoid the CBD if they are trying to get across town by car, in case of traffic disruption, and public transport passengers should check Metlink's website for updates.

A vehicle taking part in the protest heading towards Parliament early this morning. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Ardern told Morning Report she won't be meeting protesters at Parliament.

Lockdowns meant people sacrificed some of their usual rights and abilities to keep others safe, she says.

The protest came at a time when the government is changing the way it is doing things because of the extra protection vaccines provided, she says.

-RNZ.

13 comments

hey Jacinda

Posted on 08-02-2022 09:42 | By Mein Fuhrer

As an elected official it's you duty to meet and LISTEN to to your constituents.


RoryAJ

Posted on 08-02-2022 10:42 | By RoryAJ

I do hope that the police are checking the regos of all of the vehicles in the convoys as I would bet that at least 30% of them are not current! Probably more if what I see on the streets is anything Togo by.


stupidity

Posted on 08-02-2022 11:10 | By rogue

when will these clowns learn they are just feeding the machine. The govt is laughing at you, drive the length of the country, pay them road users charges, pay them taxes on your fuel and frustrate honest hardworking people who are struggling due to previous & current necessary covid restrictions , wake up & realise this will only make your situation worse as LESS people will feel sorry for you. Jab up or Jog on !


convoy

Posted on 08-02-2022 11:11 | By dumbkof2

how many of these protesters are getting a hand out from the government


Illegal

Posted on 08-02-2022 11:20 | By Yadick

Yeah sure you have a right to protest but where in the law does it state that in doing so you can block and hold up traffic. Wait, it doesn't but it does state that it's illegal to do so. Imagine the greenies cringing at the carbon emissions. Then again how many greenies took part and threw their 'other' beliefs out the door to do so, (the ones they protest about and blame everyone else for). Then of course there's the cars with illegal bits hanging insecurely off and out of them, vision illegally impaired by scribble all over the windows. Achieved NOTHING. Idiots.


The best protest

Posted on 08-02-2022 11:25 | By Kancho

Whether you agree or not the best protest is to remember and vote them out as soon as we can. Much i think of the government response has been to slow and not enough. However it's debatable if it could be better. Certainly divisive and clumsy. I however don't think the Ute tax is right to take money off productive people to subsidize rich to buy cars they can already afford ant their old cars still on the road. I abhor the abandonment of Afghanis to their fate who helped our people. I oppose 3 waters as it's not democratic and racial appointments, it's theft of assets and it's not necessary . All that's needed is loans to councils. Enough reason to never vote for them.


JA is a farce

Posted on 08-02-2022 12:45 | By an_alias

Nope won't admit any wrong doing, if I dont see it, it doesnt exist. Please media dont report anything, head in the sand boys. Lockdowns have been shown to do NOTHING.


Convoy

Posted on 08-02-2022 13:54 | By peanuts9

What a collection of selfish, air-polluting idiots.


Super Spreader Event

Posted on 08-02-2022 15:26 | By 2up

And they will all expect the Hospitals to be ready should they get sick with Covid.


The end is nigh

Posted on 08-02-2022 15:48 | By SonnyJim

The twittering protesters sort of miss the point that thousands have not died from Covid because of the restrictions - so their objections are really a celebration for those who have not died.


Nothing Important

Posted on 08-02-2022 16:46 | By Bob Landy

Just a fringe minority.


@Kancho

Posted on 08-02-2022 17:56 | By morepork

Amen! 100%! I am completely behind your statements here. It's no good people saying: "Well, the Opposition wouldn't have done any better..." We'll never know, and even if it were true, it doesn't alter the fact that, purely on track record, this Government has to GO! The abysmal and heartbreaking destruction and disparagement of Democratic process is unforgiveable in my book. I can forgive getting orders for masks, tests and vaccines, wrong, in a complex and rapidly changing context, that's human. But changing the Law in the middle of the night to prevent a democratic referendum, because the predicted results don't suit them, commissioning a completely separate mechanism of "co-governance" without any vote or mandate to do so, changing the History, Education, Legal, Health, and Governing Bodies, surreptitiously, without answering to anyone; that's pre-meditated, self-serving, sneakiness. Those things I can't forgive, and WON'T forget, come elections...


My disappointment.......

Posted on 08-02-2022 21:35 | By groutby

..is not with this group rightfully protesting about...well whatever they are protesting about ( to be fair I think there are several matters here), but the stupidity of those not understanding they are not (all at least) 'anti 'vaxxers'...are they?...they aren't even saying that...are they? I have heard this several times on national news today about the 'anti vax' protest in Wellington, and some replies to this very article think this is so. It isn't..... Take another look and reconsider your comments before you start growing a fleece and go....BAAAAA !!!


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