New Zealand anti-vaccine protests turn violent as 60 arrested and fires started

Three officers hurt as police 'gain significant ground' in efforts to clear protesters

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  Demonstrators set fire to tents, mattresses and chairs at a protest opposing coronavirus vaccine mandates in Wellington, New Zealand. AP

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  A fire rages as police move in to clear protesters from Parliament grounds in Wellington. AFP

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  A woman approaches police standing guard. AFP

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  Protesters attack police officers. AFP

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  Protesters against Covid-19 vaccine manadates and restrictions gather near parliament grounds in Wellington on March 2, 2022. (Photo by Dave Lintott / AFP)

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  The protest has disrupted the capital city for the past three weeks. AFP

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  Riot police stand guard as protesters gather near Parliament in Wellington. AFP

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  Police with riot shields clash with demonstrators. AFP

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  Police officers confront anti-coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandate protesters outside the Parliament buildings in Wellington, New Zealand, March 2, 2022, in this picture obtained by REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS- THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

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  Police stand guard after removing tents set up by protesters. AFP

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  Police detain a demonstrator after a man unsuccessfully attempts to drive a car into a group of officers. AFP

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  Demonstrators comfort each other during the protest. AP

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  A demonstrator receives medial attention after he was pepper sprayed by police. AP

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  Since the beginning of the pandemic, New Zealand has reported fewer than 100 virus deaths among its population of five million. AP

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  The crowds eventually dispersed but their messages remained. AFP

New Zealand police have moved in to end an anti-vaccine mandate protest in capital Wellington for the past three weeks.

Hundreds of protesters have been blocking streets with lorries, cars and motorcycles, in a protest that has led to violent clashes.

It follows demonstrations by lorry drivers in Canada who are unhappy with the country’s Covid-19 restrictions.

Officers on Wednesday begun towing away cars and dismantling tents set up outside Parliament.

Police said 60 people were arrested during Wednesday's operation as they “gained significant ground” in efforts to clear the protesters. At least three officers were injured, police said.

Protesters used fire extinguishers, paint-filled projectiles, home-made plywood shields and pitchforks as weapons and a cord was set up as a trip wire, police said. Social media footage showed protesters throwing full water bottles and shouting abuse at police.

Authorities used loudspeakers to warn protesters they face arrest for trespassing on Parliament grounds if they refuse to leave. Pepper spray was used on some protesters.

“Those protesters illegally occupying Parliament grounds and surrounding streets have been given ample opportunity to leave. It is time for them to go,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at a news conference after the police action.

The protests have been fuelled by misinformation and conspiracy theories, she said.

Police commissioner Andrew Coster said it was time to clear the roads of Wellington.

The protest began as a stand against Covid-19 vaccine mandates, but was later joined by groups calling for an end to all pandemic restrictions.

“We are fighting for our standard of life. We want our sovereign right to our bodies,” said Kate Siegert, who is unvaccinated, as she watched protesters move forward to block police advances.

Ms Siegert, who has made several trips from her home in Auckland to join the protest, said she lost her IT job because of mandates requiring vaccination for those who work in the health industry.

At least 10 children were seen within the protest area and police said they had concerns for their well-being.

Police officers confront anti-coronavirus vaccine mandate protesters outside the Parliament buildings in Wellington, New Zealand. Reuters

Lisa Suasua, 55, who has been part of the protests for weeks, said she will stay until the end.

“They [the police] have been pretty brutal. They don't talk, they ask us to move on,” she said.

“They came in about six in the morning and started pulling up the tents in the church (grounds) that has women and children in it and just started coming through with their riot gear,” she said.

A country of five million people, New Zealand imposed tough anti-virus curbs that restricted its cases to just over 118,000 and 56 deaths, far lower than in many developed countries. But fuelled by the Omicron variant, daily infections are currently hovering near record levels.

About 95 per cent of eligible people are vaccinated with two doses, with shots mandatory for some staff in frontline jobs.