2pm update: Hundreds of protesters are congregating on the Tauranga waterfront after marching from Memorial Park.
Devonport Road was blocked as protesters marched along the road down to The Strand, turning into Wharf Street.
Motorists are advised that there are significant traffic delays due to congestion building up in Fraser Street, 11th Ave and Devonport Road.
Protesters are carrying signs that cover a range of messages including 'Segregation is always wrong', 'The media lies', 'This is not our New Zealand', 'Freedom over fear' and 'Freedom'.
Protesters gathering on The Strand. Photo: Cameron Avery.
Police monitoring the protest march on The Strand. Photo: Cameron Avery.
Protesters arriving at Wharf Street on The Strand. Photo: Cameron Avery.
Protesters holding signs on The Strand. Photo: Cameron Avery.
Earlier, 1.30pm: Hundreds of protesters are marching along Devonport Road from Memorial Park towards the Tauranga CBD.
Motorists are advised that there is major congestion forming around Fraser Street and Memorial Park due to protesters blocking Devonport Road.
"There's literally a thousand if not more," says a SunLive reporter at the scene. "There's quite a few wandering down the middle of the road, with motorbikes revving, and a huge backlog of traffic.
"They're all moving at walking pace, and the whole road is blocked by protesters. There is traffic behind them all."
Protesters marching along Devonport Road from Memorial Park. Photo: Cameron Avery.
"It's about a kilometre long of people stretching from Memorial Park at 11th Ave. There's a line of people from about Second Ave to Seventh Ave. They'll be going through the middle of town soon. Looks like they're going down Devonport Rd towards The Strand.
"One guy came up to me, very aggressive towards media," says the SunLive reporter.
Motorists are advised to avoid Devonport Rd and Fraser St towards 11th Ave due to the congestion which is forming, and to use alternate routes or delay travel.
It is understood that the protesters met earlier at Memorial Park before starting on their march.
At the scene? Phone 0800 SUNLIVE or email newsroom@thesun.co.nz
Protesters marching along Devonport Road from Memorial Park. Photo: Cameron Avery.
20 comments
protest
Posted on 26-02-2022 14:08 | By dumbkof2
how about a protest to protest about the protesters
Ballot box
Posted on 26-02-2022 14:54 | By Kancho
They are not listening. Make them remember next election don't vote Green as that's the same as Labour both the same policies. I voted Labour all my life but never again. Their policies are wrong and driven by ideology and control and division. They have controlled spin and media , restrained medical supplies, and MlQ etc all the way through as hospitals were not ready. Most to slow and too late. Economy down and inflation up. Little delivery on a thing, talk big, deliver little. We started good but slowness lost that time gained..They still talk big expensive reforms but housing , poverty, child harm nowhere near their talk. They don't deserve support next election
Great
Posted on 26-02-2022 15:47 | By Local Too
Great turn out to bring the message NO MANDATES
puppets
Posted on 26-02-2022 16:46 | By usandthem
It's easy to see from the photos that the majority seem to be Destiny Church members who can't see that they are wrapped around the little finger of their self appointed apostile who only wants their money at the end of the week.
Title
Posted on 26-02-2022 16:46 | By namxa
Did they bring their tinfoil hats like the noddies in Wellington?
Morons!
Posted on 26-02-2022 19:58 | By Ben Dover
When they all get covid they will be first in the queue at the hospitals!
Not Protesters!
Posted on 26-02-2022 20:06 | By bruce.deirdre@xtra.co.nz
You rabble are not protesters, you are simply simple brainwashed ANARCHISTS... My father & three Grandfathers fought for the FREEDOMS that you do not seem to understand that you have in NZ... try this anarchy in Hong Kong, Iran, Russia, China or North Korea.... Bruce Walker
Pointless posturing
Posted on 26-02-2022 21:22 | By Let's get real
The idea that any political organisation is going to take any notice of a rabble is beyond ridiculous. Once elected, the electorate is irrelevant to the wielding of power without repercussions. I wonder why the nation is so soft on the useless, sycophantic actors from the Green Party, who are evidently totally in favour and supportive of every political move and are still registering well above their abilities in the polls. Who are they and where are they...? It seems that only four politicians from the current government can be trusted to tell the lies with a straight face and believe them.
protest
Posted on 27-02-2022 08:47 | By dumbkof2
its about time the police called in the army to control these rabble rousers. just thumbing there nose at the law. look at wellington ,the auckland harbour bridge and many other places.
Is it not worth considering....
Posted on 27-02-2022 08:58 | By groutby
........these people protest for what they believe in, and anarchy is in the mind of the writers who do not believe in the right to do so, they are the true anarchists. I think my family fought in a different war perhaps, as they won the freedom and right to protest, and no, it's not going to suit everyone's lifestyle at the time....tough luck !! sometimes we should just accept not everything goes their way and stop offering verbal abuse as per some posts, definately a lack of tolerance and intellect IMO.
Come On Police
Posted on 27-02-2022 15:37 | By Yadick
It's illegal to block public roads and hold up traffic. There's enough disruption on our roads already. They may have a freedom and right to protest as groutby points out but that doesn't allow them to take over our roads. Footpaths are for foot traffic, seats in vehicles are for people not sitting in the tray of or on the side of utes unrestained. Kids don't belong at these protests either. If you feel a need to protest don't disrupt others who are going about their everyday lives. On the other hand perhaps you need to take a good long look at the freedoms you do have. It's time the Police quit watching and making hollow threats. Stand up and do the job you say you're going to do. These protesters are making a joke of our Police ('force')
Freedom, yeah right
Posted on 27-02-2022 17:28 | By Get our roads
Do you protesters know what freedom is, go to Ukraine right now and fight for your freedom, you lot are a joke. Thinking about yourselves as usual and not all NZers as a collective, we have all lost a lot through COVID so get some perspective and stop thinking that Freedom is anything to do with vaccine mandates, it isnt any way related, the mandates are a health response to deaths and illness that NZ is I'll prepared for, grow up, get a life, go to Ukraine and help them fight for freedom, no, didnt think so.
Come on Yadick
Posted on 28-02-2022 11:10 | By B.C.
I'm genuinely sorry that so many people think this way. Apparently we should be grateful for the freedoms we have. Really? What we've learned from the last 2 years is this - what we thought were basic freedoms and rights are an illusion, we learned that governments have the ability to strip us of our freedoms in a completely arbitrary manner. And the scary thing is, most people accept this outrageous situation. Does anyone remember back to 2020, when simply going to the beach was a crime. People trembled in their houses like frightened rabbits because of a deliberate campaign of fear. Our ancestors sent their sons overseas to fight and die to preserve our freedoms. Those brave men fought and died for us, they would probably turn their heads in disgust at the pathetic state we find ourselves in.
Between a rock and a hard place.
Posted on 28-02-2022 13:14 | By morepork
That's where the cops are currently. Protestors seek to disrupt (otherwise the "protest" has little value...). They break the Law, and the cops are supposed to arrest people who do that. But if the cops act too heavy-handedly, it looks like we are living in a Police state and Democracy (with the Democratic right to protest dissent with official policy) is undermined. The police response would be correct if they were dealing with reasonable, rational people. A soft approach is the least destructive. It is emerging that these are NOT reasonable people and perhaps the time has come to move them on. I support the police restrained action, but it wouldn't be needed if we had a Government that was not seeking to remove Democracy and make dissent non-viable, in the first place. Their divisive, secretive, bullying actions have led to this. Remember when you vote.
Come on B.C.
Posted on 28-02-2022 21:45 | By Yadick
Our ancestors sent their sons overseas to fight and die to preserve our freedoms. Those brave men fought and died for us . . . Yes they did. I couldn't agree more, however you cannot condone illegal behaviors. I do not and I will not. I stand by my comment and make no apology for it. I am ashamed to say that I grew my childhood in Russia. The freedoms we enjoy in NZ is mind boggling. I have no problem with protesting but I do with illegal actions. I agree with morepork that the current Government has given birth to these behaviors by their own underhanded dealings but this does not justify illegalities. As an adult they know better than their self-entitled, self-centered behaviors. Protest with a brain.
B.C.
Posted on 01-03-2022 08:54 | By R. Bell
Your thinking does indeed belong in the period B.C. The facts you deny are easily pointed out 1. You should indeed be thankful for the freedoms our ancestors fought for, but in a liberal democracy those "freedoms" are limited by the need for public safety. Neither you nor I have the right to jeopardise that safety. 2. No one in their right mind "trembled in their houses like frightened rabbits" that is a typical statement of misinformation that is rife on social media. 3. The fact is that prudence in a pandemic overrides all else including your so called freedom. As morepork rightly states the police AND the government are stuck between the proverbial hard place and that rotten rock. They need and deserve our collective support. Are you up for it ?
@ R. Bell
Posted on 01-03-2022 13:30 | By Yadick
You spell it out perfectly. Well said.
Freedom
Posted on 01-03-2022 18:57 | By laugeo
is democracy and democracy is "control of an organisation or group by the majority of its members". So, stop bitching about your rights to freedoms and accept that the majority rules in a democratic and FREE society. I think these protestors are confusing a 'right to their freedoms' with their own selfish desire to seek attention by complaining about all the things put in place to protect them by a government that has had the overwhelming support of the majority in doing so. Evidenced by vaccination rates. It is hard sometimes to be empathetic in the face of such ignorant and self serving behaviour which inconveniences everyday people who actually value the democracy they live in and just want to go about their business.
@Yadick
Posted on 05-03-2022 15:15 | By morepork
"Protest with a brain" You are absolutely right, but it does premise the ability to protest. A repressive Government that gradually seeks to remove that ability will provoke unfortunate over-reactions by people who are simply fed up with it. I agree with you 100% that the Law is sacrosanct and must be obeyed and enforced, unless a judge and a jury say there can be a specific exemption in a specific case. There is no excuse for the actions in Wellington and they were wrong. It makes me wonder how much pent-up resentment, frustration, and anger, people are experiencing with current Government policy and behavior.
Mandates &
Posted on 18-03-2022 16:19 | By bruce.deirdre@xtra.co.nz
To those who do not like to be told and mandates for the greater good, should perhaps go ask the families whose members have succumbed at this time,[and sadly there there will be more] what they feel, many of you so-called protesters feel so aggrieved that you have to put up a few rules that don't suit you, tough luck you poor precious things....get over yourselves
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