Trevor Mallard: Latest News

Police withdraw from their line and fall back to the front of Parliament buildings on the third day of demonstrations against Covid-19 restrictions, inspired by a similar demonstration in Canada, in Wellington on February 10, 2022 (Photo by MARTY MEL WELLINGTON, New Zealand - New Zealand's prime minister on Monday said protesters who oppose coronavirus mandates were using "intimidation and harassment," as authorities appeared to take a harsher stance toward the convoy of demonstrators that has disrupted the capital of Wellington for nearly a week.Police initially let the protesters set up tents and camp on the grounds of New Zealand's Parliament before arresting 122 people on Thursday and then backing off again. The size of the protest dropped to a few hundred last week but increased again to around 3,000 over the weekend.Speaking with reporters, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern signaled the thinning patience of authorities."I very clearly have a view on the protesters and the way that they’ve conducted their protest because it has moved beyond sharing a view to intimidation and harassment of the people around central Wellington," she said.

Cyclone Dovi caused power outages, mudslides and evacuations across New Zealand, but neither the storm nor the music of Barry Manilow could dislodge anti-vaccine protesters camped outside parliament.