And that's how they start shouting "We are under arrest here!"

Beccara:

 

Yeah but the image of Army/Police (which is what it will take) will get them more support, just like police rolling thru Auckland domain would have done. Let them burn themselves out with infighting and illness. I do chuckle tho that they 1 faction have implemented their own mandates at their anti-mandate protest:

 

[Edit (MF): This is from Canberra]

 

 

 

 

 

Please wear thong or shoes? Bit cold for that

GV27: , but it's also a farce that law-abiding Kiwis have to sit back and watch 'the usual suspects' once again getting to do what they want without fear of consequence,

SJB:

 

Trouble is the police sound like they are using techniques developed for more 'normal' protests .......

 

This is true. Normal protestors get some media time to state their grievances which is half the desired outcome.

These guys won't go near 'MSM' cos they're apparently the enemy. Which is a shame as I'd like to see these protest leaders try and state their case logically on air.

I doubt they could.

It's all out of the Trump play book - don't go near MSM because they do inconvenient things like check facts, have balance in their reports and ask awkward questions (known to most people as 'questions').

gzt:

GV27: , but it's also a farce that law-abiding Kiwis have to sit back and watch 'the usual suspects' once again getting to do what they want without fear of consequence,

Not exactly. Over 100 arrests so far. 100+ parking tickets. Imo it's one of those things many people will regret, over the longer term. I find myself wondering how many would leave if offered a lift home.

I suspect the odds of a January 6th type response, where these idiots are arrested in their homes and workplaces months after are tiny.

90% of them won't face any real repercussions for what they're doing there. The ones arrested were mostly self-selected due to disorder or threatening police.

Not to mention Towies refusing to tow cars as a result of safety fears and parking wardens being reluctant to ticket vehicles for the same reason. I believe they've had to resort to security escorts, while the towies may well need the support of the army to remove vehicles. 

I think there's a difference between this demonstration and Jan 6th - those guys in America wanted to change the natural course of the election by removing representatives from the process. The ones here want the immediate removal of temporary measures.

Either way, at least their vehicles should be towed away. Get the police to help maintain security while doing it.

All these people should be taken by police and charged with breach of health orders.

Do not get the army involved in this. The army is trained to fight an enemy, and you are making citizens their enemy. Don't go there.

freitasm:

 

Do not get the army involved in this. The army is trained to fight an enemy, and you are making citizens their enemy. Don't go there.

 

Getting the army involved to clear a street of vehicles because towies have been intimidated into not towing them is acceptable IMO. 

Provided they aren't being used to clear protesters themselves then I have no issue with it - it's the same as any other civil defense response they would get involved with.

I see the police are trying to reason with the protesters so the rest of the city can function and are talking about moving their vehicles to a secure site like the stadium carpark - but given the abuse towies copped in Australia for removing cars, I can't say I'd blame them for not wanting to get involved. 

If they just get the vehicles and leave the police to do the policing, then I am ok with that. 

GV27:

freitasm:

Do not get the army involved in this. The army is trained to fight an enemy, and you are making citizens their enemy. Don't go there.

Getting the army involved to clear a street of vehicles because towies have been intimidated into not towing them is acceptable IMO. 

Provided they aren't being used to clear protesters themselves then I have no issue with it - it's the same as any other civil defense response they would get involved with.

It does sort of reinforce the point that if you threaten territorial authorities or other New Zealanders, you can actually just do what you want.

GV27:

 

It does sort of reinforce the point that if you threaten territorial authorities or other New Zealanders, you can actually just do what you want.

 

Pretty much. Typical of the soft justice system in this country. Once again those of us who had abided by the law, lockdowns, restrictions, mask wearing and got vaccinated have to watch the same people ignore all laws and restrictions with no fear of any consequence. They are just dancing to music and having a big party, essentially having the type of summer festival (despite the weather) that the people who have done everything asked of them were promised and have had taken away.

It was shocking to hear a police tactic was to "identify leaders" among the groups and move them to a neutral location for "negotiations". No surprise they said it failed, but having that idea on the table was truly bizarre.

That's like going to the zoo and looking for a leader among each carnivore to negotiate integration into the herbivore habitats. 1) From their observed tendencies why would you think they are capable of negotiations? And 2) You won't be offering them anything - so why are you giving everyone the impression that you might?

They have to consider consistent responses to protests? ???? But why if the protests themselves are not even remotely consistent in nature? This reeks of the top brass thinking "I know the orders I'm supposed to give to uphold the law but don't want the responsibility if it goes pear shaped."

A photo on Stuff.co.nz suggests the protestors managed to get a classic Mini into the parliamentary grounds. You can't make this up. 

I'm keen to know whether a chain/gate was removed or if it was low enough to slip under/small enough to get through bollards.

I frequently see bollards in public spaces and wonder if I could get an old Mini through if I wanted to, but the parliamentary grounds probably shouldn't be one of those places. 

Probably tipped it on it’s side, and pushed through with two wheels on ground.

Enough people easy to lift car up one side. 

Looks like there is a set of gates for access vehicles on one side without any bollards on Lambton Quay - so it's not inconceivable that they simply driven in the main entrance. It would have no problems moving around on the footpaths once inside.