Police have this morning installed hard concrete barriers at key roads around the perimeter of Parliament, containing protest activity in Wellington’s CBD.
At around 3:30am staff began installing the barriers at eight locations around Parliament. The operation, involving approximately 300 staff and large-scale equipment to install the barriers, will enable Police to prevent further growth in vehicles within the area of the protest, and to maintain access for residents, businesses and emergency vehicles.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says negotiation and de-escalation is the only safe, and therefore most desirable, way to resolve the Wellington protest. “Police’s current assessment of the situation is that any enforcement action by Police runs a serious risk of much wider harm than the protest is presently creating.

Police can report there were no incidents of note overnight at Parliament Grounds.

There were, however, two arrests for alcohol-related behaviour among those in the protest group. Police continue to take a measured approach to the protesters, who are trespassing on the grounds of Parliament and have been repeatedly asked to leave.

This is an extremely difficult working environment for our frontline staff.

A total of 122 people have been arrested today as Police continue to enforce a trespass order at Parliament grounds.

The number of protesters at the grounds has reduced significantly, and Police will maintain a presence overnight. A number of roads around the area remain blocked and Police urge Wellington commuters to plan their travel accordingly.

Other smaller protest gatherings include a small group outside the Picton Police Station today, although the group dispersed earlier this evening.

Police continue to appeal to protestors to leave Parliament Grounds peacefully, as the area is closed to the public. It is disappointing that despite the grounds being officially closed to the public earlier today, a number of protesters are refusing repeated requests to leave the precinct.

Police continue to take a measured approach, exercising their powers fairly and proportionately.

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