An ANZ bank in central Wellington has been forced close for the day after protesters climed onto the building.
Four climate change protesters scaled the building this morning, and about thirty more built a wall of coal blocking the entrance.
Protesters unfurled a banner on the ANZ building in central Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Maja Burry
The protest outside the Lambton Quay branch was aimed at highlighting what the group said was the bank's investments in fossil fuels.
Protests were also held in Auckland and Christchurch recently by the group, Break Free, a global anti-fossil fuel group.
Bags of coal were used to block an entrance to the bank Photo: RNZ / Maja Burry
Protesters scaled the ANZ building on Lambton Quay, Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Maja Burry
Local spokesperson Niamh O'Flynn said ANZ had $13.5 billion invested in coal and gas projects and it was time for them to divest from fossil fuels.
"The government signed an agreement in Paris last year saying that we need to keep global warming below two degrees, and ANZ bank is not acting in that way - they're funding new fossil fuel projects."
Ms O'Flynn said the protesters would be packing up now that the bank had closed.
She said the four protestors who scaled the building were trespassed, but no arrests were made.
The climbers receive their tresspass notices. Nobody was arrested! #ANZdivest #breakfreenz #breakfree2016 pic.twitter.com/oF21crgm6h
— 350 Aotearoa (@350nz) May 10, 2016
