The 2022 Wellington protest was an anti-mandate and anti-lockdown occupation of the grounds of Parliament House and Molesworth Street in Central Wellington during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The occupation springboarded off the New Zealand Convoy 2022, a mass convoy of vehicles that made its way from the top of the North Island and the bottom of the South Island to Parliament starting on Waitangi Day (6 February 2022) and arriving three days later on 9 February. The occupation lasted just over three weeks. At its peak, the protest spread over a large area of Thorndon and into Pipitea with approximately 1,000 participants. Protesters blockaded areas around the parliamentary grounds with their vehicles and occupied the lawn and surrounding areas in tents. Some associated with the protests harassed bystanders, and disrupted local businesses. The protest was forcibly ended by police on 2 March 2022, and the protesters had none of their demands met by the Government.
The protesters were a mixed group, but the majority protested the COVID-19 mask and vaccine mandates in New Zealand, while some identified with ideologies such as Trumpism, white nationalism, Christian fundamentalism and antiestablishmentarianism. Māori sovereignty ideology was also present, although local and national Māori leaders denounced the occupation. The protest originally began with a small group from the South Island, and the resulting mixture of motivations led to mixed messaging and eventual internal division. Their protest methods ranged from peaceful to increasingly violent. There were videos of protesters skirmishing with and attacking police, and a report of protesters harassing and egging a teenage girl for wearing a mask. Some protesters hung nooses from trees and made threats to lynch politicians, such as Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson and pregnant MP Steph Lewis. Antisemitism was reported to be "rife" within the protests.
Despite the disruption to Wellingtonians, the police initially took a 'light-handed' approach to protesters. Otago University law professor Andrew Geddis suggested the police did not want to escalate the situation. On 2 March, police began to take action, forcibly removing the protesters, which left the parliamentary grounds covered in rubbish, including destroyed tents, hay, and human excrement. Towards the end, some protesters turned violent and injured 40 police officers, putting eight of them in hospital. Arson was committed while protesters were being evicted, causing damage estimated in the millions. Towards the end of the occupation some protest groups began infighting. In December 2023, the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) released a report outlining six cases of excessive force used by police during the occupation, following 1900 complaints.
Background
Vaccination became mandatory for all health and disability workers as well as in education, corrections, defence, Fire and Emergency New Zealand and police on 15 November 2021. New Zealand made the My Vaccine Pass available to all eligible New Zealanders on 17 November, and required all staff at close contact venues (gyms and hospitality) to be vaccinated by 17 January.
New Zealand has been praised for its success at controlling the spread of Covid, with its approach being regarded as the most successful in the world. Globally the country has high vaccination rates and one of the lowest per capita death rates. Most of the population have received the control measures well, with lockdowns and border closures often polling at more than 80% and their trust in scientists becoming the highest in the world.
The New Zealand protest was influenced by the Canada convoy protest that began on 22 January, when hundreds of vehicles blocked bridges at the border between Canada and the US, as well as streets in downtown Ottawa. Other nations were also influenced by the Canadian protest, holding their own rallies. The New Zealand protesters were mainly protesting against vaccine mandates, mask mandates and government lockdowns aimed at controlling the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand. It expanded to include a variety of anti-establishment goals characterised by mistrust of authorities, Government, media and police.
Participants and agenda
In early February, about 100 people camped overnight at Parliament the first night and over the ensuing weeks, numbers peaked at about 3000. The protest was inspired by the truck convoy which occupied downtown Ottawa, Canada and several Wellington protesters carried Canadian flags in support. The Wellington protesters were a very diverse group consisting of "young, middle-aged and old, Māori, Pākehā (European New Zealanders), Asians, hippies, gang members, church groups, stoners, naked and clothed." At the start, convoy organisers had a fairly specific message: they wanted an end to vaccine mandates, repeal of COVID-19-related legislation and for anti-vaccination doctors suspended by the Medical Council to be reinstated. Elements of the Māori protest movement, such as the ahi kā (as seen recently in Ihumātao) were expressed by Māori with long-standing grievances against the Ministry of Health for its historical failures towards Māori. O'Brien and Huntington (2022) write that this messaging was soon co-opted by the Pākehā protestors, who constituted a majority, to justify the violent conspiratorial elements, such as the "antisemitic currents unconnected to vaccination issues" visible within the occupation.
On 21 February, David Farrar's Curia Market Research published the results of a poll surveying 312 protesters in Wellington between 19 and 20 February. In terms of origins, 41% of protesters came from provincial cities; 18.9% from towns, 7.7% from rural areas; 17% from Auckland; 8.7% from Wellington; and 6.7% in Christchurch. 55% of the protesters identified as female while 45% identified as male. In terms of ethnicity, 64.4% of protesters identified as Europeans; 27.2% as Māori; 4.2% as Asians, and 2.6% as Pasifika. In terms of voting patterns during the 2020 New Zealand general election, 29.8% of the protesters had voted for Labour; 15.9% for the Greens; 15.9% for National, 11.9% for ACT, 8.7% for the New Conservatives, 7.5% for Advance New Zealand; and 3.6% for the Māori Party. The survey found that 76.9% of protesters were unvaccinated; 4.8% had received one dose; 13.8% had received two doses; and that 2.9% had been triple boosted. The survey also found that most protesters were motivated by opposition to mandates, support for freedom of choice, concerns about children being vaccinated, and the loss of jobs.
There was no clear leadership within the protest group, with several groups and activists involved in organising the protest including anti-vaccination groups "Voices for Freedom" and New Zealand Doctors Speaking Out on Science (NZDSOS), conspiracy theorist Brett Power, far right media outlet Counterspin Media, Bishop Brian Tamaki's "The Freedoms & Rights Coalition" (TFRC), far right activist Kelvyn Alp, anti-vaccination activist Chantelle Baker, the right-wing New Conservative Party, and the neo-Nazi organisation Action Zealandia.
There were muddled messages with some protesters spreading vaccine misinformation, conspiracy theories, claiming media corruption, voicing Trump slogans and making death threats. Antisemitism was reported to be "rife" within the protests, with the Parliamentary grounds vandalised with swastikas, protesters misappropriating yellow stars, and messages targeting Jews written on car windows.
On 14 February, Groups within the protest, including Convoy 2022 NZ, Freedom Alliance, New Zealand Doctors Speaking Out with Science, Outdoors & Freedom Movement, The Freedoms & Rights Coalition, The Hood NZ and Voices for Freedom, issued a letter demanding an urgent meeting with Government ministers and the immediate removal of vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 response rules. The groups claimed that they were not just about anti-vaccination but more opposed to the Government's vaccine mandate.
Timeline
First week
On 6 February, Waitangi Day, two convoys of vehicles travelled from Cape Reinga in the North Island and Bluff in the South Island to Wellington, departing at 6:30 am. The South Island convoy was led by Derek Broomhall. Opponents sought to disrupt the convoys' journeys by spreading disinformation about travel itineraries on the Convoy's Telegram and Zello channels. In addition, opponents also hacked into the Convoy's Spotify playlist and added songs deemed objectionable by the organisers, including Rebel Son's "Redneck Piece of White Trash," The Offspring's "Why Don't You Get a Job?", and Peaches' "Dumb F**k."
The presence of motorbikes, trucks, and cars created major traffic jams and disruption in the Wellington Central Business District. In response, Prime Minister Ardern and the Leader of the Opposition, Christopher Luxon, stated that they would not meet with the convoy participants. Despite convoy vehicles illegally blocking roads and occupying pedestrian areas, the Wellington City Council declined to issue infringement notices due to concerns over staff safety. Protesters erected tents and marquees on Parliament grounds, with at least 100 people camping overnight.
The next day protesters attempted to push through a fence outside Parliament but were stopped by police, who formed a ring around the entrance to the Parliament Buildings. Three men were arrested and issued with trespass notices. One of those arrested was the conspiracy theorist Brett Powers, who unsuccessfully attempted to arrest Minister of Health Andrew Little for alleged culpability in vaccine deaths. Police also issued orders for protesters to remove their tents and marquees from Parliament grounds. The attempt to breach the police line outside Parliament may have sparked tensions between the original organisers (who advocated calm) and Counterspin (who pushed for the storming of Parliament).
Police attempted to forcibly remove the protesters from Parliament grounds on 10 February. One hundred and twenty two protesters were arrested on charges of trespass and obstruction. About 27 protesters were held in custody overnight after refusing to sign their bail bonds. Following the failed attempt, 900 police officers in Wellington and 150 reinforcements were brought in from across the country. Protesters parked their vehicles the streets around Parliament, leading to the closure of several businesses and the National Library of New Zealand. The police began working with Wellington City Council parking wardens to issue infringement notices to the protesters' illegally parked vehicles and to prevent food trucks bringing food to the protesters.
On 11 February, Parliament's garden sprinklers were turned on under orders by Trevor Mallard in a bid to deter protesters from Parliament and convince them to leave. Protesters then started to dig channels to direct water to nearby drains, causing the lawns to turn boggy and muddy. Wellington District Commander Superintendent Corrie Parnell said Molesworth Street remains blocked by over 100 vehicles, including large trucks, campervans and cars. No further arrests had been made that day. Mallard also had speakers set up to play Barry Manilow songs, the "Macarena", "Baby Shark," "My Heart Will Go On," "Let It Go," James Blunt's "You're Beautiful," and pro vaccination messages. Mallard was criticised by both the National and ACT parties for escalating the tension.
Convoy protesters remained at their makeshift camp despite heavy rain caused by the approaching Cyclone Dovi. Police maintained a presence near the camp while around 100 vehicles including large trucks, campervans and cars continued to occupy Molesworth Street. In addition, bales of hay were brought to mop up the water caused by the sprinklers. The camp maintained a festival-like atmosphere with chanting interspersed with music. In response, Ngāti Toa condemned the use of their haka Ka Mate at the protest. Police also evacuated a protester who experienced a medical emergency. Due to disruptions caused by the protest, Metlink removed all bus services from the Lambton Interchange and placed additional detours in place.
After the cyclone passed police attempted to unblock roads around Parliament but were unable to communicate with organisers. To reassure the public, police stepped up patrols around Molesworth street and other streets around the protest as well as the train station. Parnell also confirmed that the police were entering into discussions with the New Zealand Defence Force to unblock roads. There were reports of protesters who had been arrested earlier but had bail conditions to not return to the campsite flouting court orders. According to police, there were between 400 and 500 people remaining in tents, after reaching a peak of 3,000 people. Parnell confirmed that police were also working to restore the protest to a "lawful protest" by engaging with key leaders and moving vehicles to a staging area in order to reopen Wellington's streets.
Second week
Heading into the second week, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said that police would give protesters the opportunity to voluntarily remove their vehicles but warned that time was "running out." The police entered into discussions with towing companies and the New Zealand Defence Force to remove the illegally parked vehicles. Police and the Wellington City Council offered protesters free parking at the nearby Sky Stadium, to try and clear roads of vehicles. Many protesters were suspicious of the offer, concerned that their vehicles would end up getting impounded if they did so. The next day only 40 vehicles had taken up the offer of free parking at Sky Stadium. The Defence Force was in discussions with the police over the type of assistance it could provide in removing vehicles. By 15 February 200 parking tickets had been issued but only one had been paid.
On 16 February 2022, far-right Action Zealandia member Max Newsome, who at the time was working as a construction crew member, posted a video and photos of the protest from Bowen House. His activities sparked an investigation by law enforcement authorities and prompted Speaker Mallard to restrict access to Bowen House.