Protester at Wainuiomata Marae shouted down, taken away by police

March 4, 2022

The man was held down and told that his was not the kaupapa that locals had been supporting.

A man has been taken away by police after arguing with people outside Wainuiomata Marae on Friday morning.

The community of Wainuiomata, near Wellington, have been guarding the perimeter of the marae since Thursday.

They had come together to protect their marae from some of Parliament's displaced protesters who were said to be heading there.

The man on Friday morning showed up outside the marae, and began arguing with community members guarding the entrance.

Video shows the man becoming more and more aggravated, while people eventually start to yell back, telling him to move on.

The situation becomes increasingly aggressive as the man continues to shout at community members who eventually have to restrain him.

Theresa Olsen told 1News that kind of person wasn’t welcome on the marae.

As the man is being held on the ground, one man tells him this "is not what we're here for, this is not the kaupapa that we're supporting".

Eventually police arrived and took the man away.

Police later said they had responded to reports of "disorderly behaviour" at a Wainuiomata address on Friday at 10.50am, and one person was taken into custody at the scene.

Theresa Olsen of Wainuiomata Marae told 1News that kind of behaviour was expected, which is why the community had rallied together.

“Unfortunately there are a few amongst them that are really angry at the Government’s mandates," she sai

“This is a place of peace. This is a place where Māori gather and celebrate. This is not a place where those kind of protests are allowed to happen.”

Police car outside Wainuiomata Marae

Olsen said it was understood the protesters were looking for places to regroup after being moved off of Parliament grounds on Wednesday.

“We don’t want that here,” she said.

“Just go home you’ve made your point, you’ve made your point, just go home.

“Go home and live your life and let us live ours.”

She said the community coming together to protect the marae was amazing.

Police officer arrives after fight broke out outside Wainuiomata Marae

“Wainui is well known for that. Wainui is a caring community it's a community that come together when need be. They just gather, we didn't tell anybody to come.”

Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry also had a message for protesters.

“Go home. It really is time to go home, we really want to be able to get on with our business. Our people here just want to be able to continuing doing their day to day lives."

The marae is also registered to administer Covid-19 vaccines, and Barry said it was important that work could still continue.

“We want to be able to continue having this space for our community," he told 1News.

Some protesters have set up camp at Shelly Bay after being moved off Parliament grounds.

Police on Friday earlier said they were aware of a "group of people and vehicles" that were moving between Mahanga Bay and Wainuiomata, and were monitoring the situation.

Police said there had now been a total of 102 arrests relating to Wednesday’s operation.

An investigation into the protest activity is also now underway and police said there would still be a “highly-visible police presence” in Wellington’s central city on Friday and throughout the weekend.

Police have begun to remove bollards that were blocking roads around Parliament and access would be restored to the bus depot, Hill and Aitkin streets.

Lower Molesworth St would remain cordoned off.

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