Protesters get through a tough night

The Wellington protest has made it through a tough night of rain and high winds.

Another day of difficult conditions is expected today, although rain and wind appears to have eased in the last hour. Last evening Speaker Trevor Mallard  ordered the playing of continuous loud music, featuring Barry Manilow and the Marcarena, but like his sprinkler ploy, has had no effect.

Some tents were blown over last night but work begun early to reassemble them. Hot food and drinks are being provided, as well as hot showers. A medical tent is also available.

A bit of carnage through the middle. We’re through the worst of the rain now. pic.twitter.com/8QP2S4ieP3

— FUBAR nz (@NzFubar) February 12, 2022

We’ve still some drizzle, but the wind is has subsided for now. Will have pictures shortly.

— FUBAR nz (@NzFubar) February 12, 2022

Protesters not deterred by the wind and rain.

Stay strong! And don't give up. Keep showing Mallard and Ardern what they've done to this once great country. #MallardMustGo #resignJacinda

— Julie (@Julie_nzkiwi) February 12, 2022

Just walking around making sure people are dry and okay. There are people walking amongst the crowd taking who they can for hot showers and to dry their clothes. It’s quite emotional to see the strength in numbers and all the help and support being offered, all the time ????????

— FUBAR nz (@NzFubar) February 12, 2022

One of our contacts on the ground gives a brief summary of the past few days:

The rally members have not ever tried to push past the police line – the police line (more than a dozen times) tried to push those people out of the park. I was there every afternoon speaking with people and seeing the attitude of the police (not in the mornings, unfortunately, when the worst assaults happened).

On Tuesday, when the rally arrived, there were no police, and the atmosphere was peaceful, loving, positive and supportive…reminded me of the 60s sit-ins! Locals were providing food and drink, and private security staff were calmly assisting with street parking etc. There was not an unhappy person in sight.

Then on Wednesday, there were the police, almost elbow to elbow, in a solid line all around the forecourt in front of Parliament, When Brett Power asked to be allowed to deliver his letter to the reception area, police denied him his right and started to push him back – he never pushed them first – and then he had to defend himself from their unnecessary aggression. All they had to do was accompany him over to reception and back.

Phone videos went out, and the police backed off pretty much for the rest of the day.

I didn’t arrive until the afternoon again on Thursday, and heard about the organised, vicious serried-line pushing into the rally crowd by the police. I interviewed a couple in their 40s who were targeted and injured during one of a dozen of these attempted invasions to disperse the crowd. The crowd responded by linking arms and cowering to protect themselves, but the police dug into the weaker points and dragged out vulnerable individuals to arrest them.

It seems by Friday, police had backed off again due to lack of success, as there were fewer in the line around the forecourt. Witnesses had seen younger members of the police force crying on Wednesday. Apparently, the police had used some young people from police college as part of the troops. Word also was on Friday, that a number of police, including some of the younger members, had shared they were resigning because of their upsetting experience and disillusion with police tactics.

I could see that many more were arriving at the rally yesterday, and people were expecting more today. We’ll see how things are going in this wet weather. Obviously, the people in tents will be adversely affected, but everyone in a vehicle said, “There is no way we’re going til the Government answers our request for freedom of choice and removes the mandates.”