Three fires, as police clear protestors and tents from Parliament’s lawn

Report from RNZ
Riot police this afternoon started pushing into the area of protest inside the grounds of Parliament, clearing tents around the bottom of the Parliamentary Library lawn. Loudspeaker messages continually told protestors that Parliament grounds are closed and people will be trespassed.

This morning police had cleared protestors and their vehicles from the streets outside Parliament.

This afternoon the police were deployed inside Parliament grounds and there were reports that tear gas had been used. Smoke seen from the Parliament building appeared to be from fire extinguishers being sprayed again by protestors.

At 3pm, the area first being cleared was one of the blocked driveway entrances down into the underground carpark. A traffic cone was thrown at police.

At 3:23, police had advanced 30 metres on to the parliament lawn, ripping out tents, and removing barriers and signs. The main resistance was on Molesworth St, with crowds retreating from the lawn as police move forward. Police were making making major ground after a massive push.

At 3:29, about half the lawn had been taken back by the police and there was a big pile of tents that had been ripped out.

At 3.40, two tents were set on fire. Police with riot shields used fire extinguishers and then water hoses to put out the flames. Some people were cheering and throwing things on the fires. There were bangs as unknown objects exploded inside the burning tents.

Soon after, the new children’s slide was set on fire.

The fires allowed the police to make significant ground. At 4pm they were halfway across Parliament’s lawn.

At 4.30, police had used heavy machinery to largely clear Molesworth Street outside Parliament. Protesters had then gathered near the bus interchange, the law school and the bottom of Lambton Quay.

At 4.40, police were spraying the protesters with fire hoses. Protesters were hurling rocks at the police at the bottom of Molesworth Street.

At 4:57, there was a standoff below the Lambton Quay entrance to Parliament. Hundreds of protesters were taking their chances with a powerful fire hose to throw bricks at the police line. People were standing around watching, filming and laughing. Several people were arrested. Police formed a T-shaped barricade across the intersection with Lambton Quay, as protestors watched them.

At 6.37pm, police were firing sponge bullet rounds at protesters who had been forced out of Parliament Grounds.

At 7.30pm, about 150 protestors were facing police with riot shields on Featherston Street near the Railway Station. Metlink earlier announced that the station was closed and all rail services suspended to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of all passengers as the protest action continued to escalate.

Police have had pitchforks, sticks and pipes used against them today, Assistant Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told Checkpoint. “We’ve made magnificent progress; our staff have done an incredible job, in very challenging circumstances. You will have seen that has been met with significant resistance and violence from some, and we are very pleased with the way that our staff dealt with it today.”

Police say they have now cleared Molesworth Street of all vehicles that had been blocking the street. There have been 65 arrests for a range of offences including trespass, wilful damage, and possession of restricted weapons. Up to 50 vehicles have been towed and approximately another 30 departed. Three police staff are being treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Police will continue efforts to keep Parliament Grounds clear tonight, after regaining control this afternoon.

News from NZ Police
As the pre-planned operation in Wellington continues this evening, Police are tonight urging people to stay away from the central business district near the Railway Station, the Victoria University Pipitea campus, and the northern end of Lambton Quay.