New Zealand police have arrested more than 50 people and begun forcefully removing hundreds of protesters camped outside its parliament building to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates and tough movement restrictions.
Demonstrators are camped inside the Wellington legislature's grounds, vowing to stay until COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
Activists chanted the Māori haka and yelled "hold the line" as they scuffled with a line of police moving to clear the protest camp from the lawns of parliament.
Police moved in early on Thursday, using loudhailers to warn a crowd of about 150 they faced arrest unless they left, after taking a hands-off approach during the first two days of days of protests.
Officers were punched and kicked amid cries of "this is not democracy", "shame on you" and "drop the mandate".
The protest, which began on Tuesday and was designed to replicate the "Freedom Convoy" action by Canadian truckers, attracted demonstrators from all corners of the country.
Similar protests have taken place in Australia, with thousands of demonstrators gathering in Canberra since last week to protest against COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions.
One woman who demanded Prime Minister Scott Morrison should be sent "to the gallows" was yesterday escorted into Parliament House by former government MP Craig Kelly.
In Wellington, protesters gathered outside the NZ parliament building, nicknamed the Beehive, ahead of the first speech for the year by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Hundreds of vehicles plastered with messages such as "give us back our freedom" were parked in streets surrounding parliament.
Other people drove around the city centre with horns blaring as more than 1,000 protesters on foot listened to speeches.
Many of the vehicles that blocked central Wellington's streets moved on within 24 hours but the atmosphere remains tense, with several hundred activists remaining and vowing to stay "as long as it takes".
Patience wearing thin
Ms Ardern has told the protesters to "move on", adding that they did not represent the majority view of New Zealanders.
"People have the right to protest but when that tips into affecting business, people's ability to move, the ability of kids to go to school or the ability of emergency services to move around, obviously the police have to manage that," she said.
Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said Wellington residents' patience over the disruptions caused by the protests had worn thin and they had called for police to act.
"Roads are blocked in the city, businesses have had to shut, people felt threatened and intimidated by some of the protesters," he told Radio New Zealand prior to the police operation.
Wellington police commander Superintendent Corrie Parnell said more than 100 extra officers had been brought in from outside the capital to clear the protest.
In a rare move, authorities closed the parliamentary precinct to the public to prevent reinforcements joining the protest.
The police line was edging forward across the parliament grounds, clearing tents and camping equipment at a slow pace.
One protester said that the atmosphere on Wednesday had become "intimidatory".
"We're here as long as it takes," Auckland resident Sel Currie said.
"It feels like the police are trying to incite violence but it won't come from us."
Police said those arrested will face trespass and obstruction charges, and will be bailed to appear in court.
Authorities have also appealed to the owners or drivers of vehicles blocking streets surrounding parliament grounds to remove them or face enforcement action.
In her first parliamentary speech for the year on Tuesday, Ms Ardern said that the pandemic would not end with the Omicron variant, and New Zealand would have to prepare for more variants of the virus this year.
Ms Ardern's government has enforced some of the toughest pandemic restrictions for the past two years as the government has tried to keep coronavirus out.
The policies have helped keep infections and deaths low.
A country of 5 million people, New Zealand has so far had about 18,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 53 deaths.
But the restrictions have angered many of the people who have faced long periods of isolation and the tens of thousands of expatriate New Zealanders who have been cut off from their families at home due to the borders being borders shut. The measures have also been devastating for businesses dependent on international tourists.
Protesters inspired by Canadian convoy
The Convoy 2022 NZ protest that began on Sunday was inspired by Canada's horn-blaring demonstrations demanding an end to COVID-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border truck drivers.
They have caused gridlock in the Canadian capital of Ottawa since late January and prompted city authorities to declare a state of emergency.
The protests began as a response to the country's vaccine mandates but have broadened to oppose restrictions more generally against unvaccinated people. Although provincial governments control these measures, not the federal government.
Several Wellington protesters were carrying Canadian flags, including an expatriate named Billy, who declined to give his surname.
"I'm just supporting the brothers in Canada, fighting for freedom over there," he said.
The Canadian protests have often tapped into right-wing politics, with Donald Trump flags appearing at rallies and the rallies drawing a large amount of interest on conservative websites.
Similar protests have also been seen in France, and truckers in the US have said they are planning to follow suit.
ABC/wires
