Police say they have serious concerns for children at the Wellington anti-mandate protests, and are now urging parents to take them home.
The protest is 'no longer safe' for families and children, police say. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
In a statement tonight, police said an estimated 30 children are present at Parliament grounds, and they are working with Oranga Tamariki "to ensure children are at the forefront of planning and response decisions".
"We urge people to stay away from an occupation site that is no longer a safe environment for families and children," they said.
Police did not specify why they said the protest was now considered unsafe.
They are warning people not to travel to Wellington to participate in the anti-mandate protest this weekend. Several Covid-19 cases have been linked to the protest.
Police said they will focus on containing the current perimeters of the protest and "maintain a safe community for our Wellington residents."
A total of 132 arrests have been made to date at Parliament, police said.
Police are also warning Aucklanders that a planned protest on the Harbour Bridge may cause traffic havoc tomorrow.
A group of protesters say they will cross the bridge on foot.
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
In a statement, police said they "will be actively engaging with those present to deter them from crossing the Harbour Bridge due to safety risks."
Motorists are advised to use the alternative SH16/SH20 link instead of the Harbour Bridge crossing, or expect delays.
Police also said they are continuing to see a reduction in the number of protesters in Wellington with about 300 vehicles remaining in the cordoned area, compared with about 800 a week or so ago.
Police said they are continuing to monitor activity at Parliament and there were no significant incidents last night.
Police said they would maintain a visible presence at the protest and surrounding areas.
One person was arrested yesterday afternoon after they attempted to move a bollard with their vehicle, police said.
Meanwhile, a vessel of 18 people has crossed the Cook Strait to join the protest at Parliament, including a couple who intend to get married.
Greg's vessel brought 18 people across the Cook Strait to participate in the protest at Parliament. Photo: RNZ
Greg, who did not want to give his last name, captained the ship, which left Picton this morning before docking in Wellington Harbour about six hours later.
He said others have asked him about crossing Cook Strait, and he tells them it is not easy.
Today they sailed across the strait - along with as many of their "fellow friends for the cause" as they could fit.
There were about 18 people, Greg said. "Just a bunch of mates from the camp in Picton, they rounded up, wanted to come over, some guys I knew online from down south - they drove all night, mate, from pretty much Bluff...in time to sail this morning".
The impending nuptials were "quite cool", concluded Greg, and the trip a "really interesting experience" with lots of different people: "the kids have been loving it", he told RNZ.
But Greg did not start in Piction; he had first sailed 50 hours from Greymouth to get there and some of those onboard - namely the marriage-bound couple - he only met on Thursday night.
Greg would be going along to the protest because he wanted to see things "get better" and to "try and keep some of our Kiwi lifestyle".
Greg said he realised he will probably have to be in Wellington for a couple of days because wind is picking up.
Police, who are warning people to not join the protest at Parliament this weekend, said the crowd was continuing to decrease.
There are about 300 vehicles within the cordoned area compared to nearer 800 a week ago.
