WELLINGTON, Feb 10, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Police and anti-vaccine protesters
clashed on the grounds of New Zealand's parliament Thursday, with more than
50 arrested after demonstrators who camped outside the legislature for three
days were ordered to move on.

   Activists chanted the Maori haka and yelled "hold the line" as they
scuffled with a line of police moving to clear a makeshift settlement from
the lawns of parliament.

   Police moved in early Thursday after taking a hands-off approach to the
first two days of days of protests, using loudhailers to warn a crowd of
about 150 they faced arrest unless they left.

   Officers were punched and kicked amid cries of "this is not democracy",
"shame on you" and "drop the mandate".

   The protest began Tuesday as a copycat of a "Freedom Convoy" action by
Canadian truckers, with hundreds of semi-trailers and campervans jamming
streets in central Wellington.

   Many of the vehicles left after 24 hours but a hardcore of activists
remained, vowing to stay "as long as it takes".

   Wellington City Council, which also took a low-key approach in the
protest's early stages, said its parking officers would begin issuing tickets
to convoy vehicles blocking city streets.

   Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said patience had worn thin among
Wellington residents at the disruption caused by the protests and 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.

   - Police 'disappointed' -

   Wellington police commander Superintendent Corrie Parnell said more than
100 extra officers were brought in from outside the capital to clear the
protest.

   "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," he said.

   In a rare move, authorities closed the parliamentary precinct to the
public to prevent reinforcements joining the protest.

   The police initially edged forward across the parliament grounds but
halted when it met resistance as officers arrested the most prominent
protesters.

   One woman, who refused to give her name, accused police of provoking the
crowd.

   "This has been a peaceful protest, what they've done is a disgrace," she
said.

   "I never thought I'd see this in New Zealand."

   But locals in the capital have complained about being abused for wearing
masks and several businesses near parliament have closed after staff were
harassed for enforcing vaccine mandates.

   Wellington City Council, which also took a low-key approach in the
protest's early days, said its parking officers would begin issuing tickets
to convoy vehicles blocking city streets.

   New Zealand requires mandatory Covid vaccinations for people working in
sectors such as health, law enforcement, education and defence, with those
who refuse the jab facing the sack.

   Proof of vaccination must also be shown to enter restaurants, sports
events and religious services.

   The "Freedom Convoy" of truckers in Canada has gridlocked the capital
Ottawa since late last month, prompting city authorities to declare a state
of emergency.