18 Feb 2022

University students call for protesters' relocation

6:23 pm on 18 February 2022

Victoria University of Wellington students are urging authorities to find alternative locations for anti-mandate protesters to camp, before classes resume at the end of the month.

Tents set up in the grounds of the law school over the road from Parliament.

Tents set up in the grounds of the Victoria University law school over the road from Parliament. Photo: RNZ

The Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association has started a petition asking for the return of their Pipitea campus from protesters, allowing students to use bus routes and access facilities, such as the student health centre.

The petition now has more than 5000 signatures.

VUWSA President Ralph Zambrano says students support peaceful protests, but they have been subject to harassment and intimidation for 11 days.

"I've heard students have been called out by some of the protesters for wearing face masks and I have also heard stories of some of our students and staff being spat on by some of the protesters," he said.

Zambrano said thousands of students would be impacted and wouldn't be able to attend classes in person if the protesters weren't moved on.

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