Some roads in central Wellington are closed and police will be out in force today as a large anti-government protest heads to Parliament.
Extra police have been called in from outside the Wellington police district.
Wellington District Commander Superintendent Corrie Parnell told Morning Report they were expecting fewer than 1000 protesters at Parliament.
Police had spoken to counter-protest groups and were expecting less than a hundred people at those demonstrations, he said. Both parties had said they intended to protest peacefully.
A traffic management plan is in place to restrict unauthorised vehicle movement and parking around Parliament until the protest ends, a police statement said.
The action is organised by a group associated with Destiny Church.
Its leader Brian Tamaki is expected to announce that he is forming a new party he hopes will draw votes from a number of anti-government groups, including those which are against Covid-19 public health measures and vaccine mandates.
Police said any behaviour deemed unlawful would not be tolerated.
“Trespass orders remain in place for some people who were trespassed from Parliament earlier this year and we will look to enforce those orders,” police said.
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