Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has a message for anti-vaccine protesters after a week of them occupying New Zealand parliament's lawns: Go home.
And a security scare might prompt a crackdown after a week of soft-touch tactics from police.
The Convoy 2022 NZ protest is steadfastly defying police to remain in Wellington's parliamentary quarter, which resembles a clapped-out music festival.
The lawns are home to weathered tents and people dishevelled after six nights camping in the outer, including a fierce storm over the weekend.
A nearby rain gauge showed the highest one-day accumulation of rain since World War II on Saturday, as Wellington was battered by the tail of ex-cyclone Dovi.
The protesters worked together to resist police and fight the elements, with a network of supporters providing food, clean clothes and even an entertainment schedule to keep morale high.
The number of protesters dropped overnight to the low hundreds, but they are joined by others during the day when they gather, shout invective at passers-by, give incendiary speeches, sing and dance.
Ms Ardern said the right to protest was important in New Zealand but this was "beyond a protest" and she considered them "an extreme group".
"I think we all want them to leave," she told Radio NZ.
Ms Ardern said messages calling for MPs and journalists to be hung, and blatant misinformation around both the COVID-19 vaccine and the government's response, told her they "were not interested in policy development".
"New Zealand is a place where protest is part of who we are. Some of our greatest movements have been born of people movements, many of which have entered the forecourt of parliament," she said.
"What I'm seeing is some kind of imported form of protest.
"We've seen Trump flags, Canadian flags ... children and young people on the way to school are being abused, businesses are seeing people occupy their spaces."
Ms Ardern's fears may be founded in the arrest of far-right supremacist Philip Arps, a supporter of Christchurch Mosques terrorist Brenton Tarrant.
On Monday afternoon, news outlet Stuff reported Mr Arps was arrested in Picton on Friday as he attempted to join the protest in Wellington.
The police charge sheet alleges Mr Arps said he was travelling north for a "public execution" and "I've been promising it, I'll see you in seven to 10 years".
The Convoy 2022 group arrived last Tuesday after setting off from different corners of New Zealand to rally at parliament.
Police have monitored their activity throughout, making 120 arrests on Thursday in an attempt to move them on - but few since.
Ms Ardern has left management of the protest to police, saying it is an operational matter for officers to deal with.
However, one of her MPs - Speaker Trevor Mallard - provoked the protesters by blaring annoying music through parliament's speakers all weekend.
Mr Mallard's playlist included Baby Shark, James Blunt, Barry Manilow and government COVID-19 messages.
On Sunday, NZ police distanced themselves from Mr Mallard's strategy, when superintendent Corrie Parnell said it was "certainly not a tactic we would encourage and certainly endorse".
Police continue to negotiate with the group, attempting to solve the problem of their abandoned cars in nearby CBD streets.
A car park at nearby Sky Stadium has been commandeered, with protesters encouraged to take their vehicles there.
Ms Ardern said her government wouldn't be negotiating with the group, and wouldn't set a date to end vaccine mandates,the group's primary demand.
"Do I believe they should be there? No. Should they go home? Yes. Especially the children."
