Barricades have been set up at Parliament in anticipation of a Freedoms and Rights Coalition protest demonstration tomorrow.
Photo: RNZ/Rosie Gordon
Large concrete blocks were installed at the gates on Sunday night, to prevent any vehicles getting through.
The Parliament end of Lambton Quay, lower Molesworth St, and Kate Sheppard Place have also been closed.
Barricades set up outside Parliament in Wellington on 21 August 2022. Photo: RNZ / Giles Dexter
Police expect traffic disruption to be minimal, but are asking people to plan ahead.
Police officers have been called to Wellington from around the country ahead of the planned protest tomorrow.
Wellington District Commander Superintendent Corrie Parnell says police will have a significant presence in the city ahead of the protest.
"Police respect the right to lawful protest. However, any behaviour deemed unlawful or that disrupts people from going about their lawful business will not be tolerated.
"Trespass orders remain in place for some people who were trespassed from Parliament earlier this year and we will look to enforce those orders," Parnell said.
Police would restrict vehicle movement and parking around Parliament, he said.
Road closures in the area include the Parliament end of Lambton Quay, lower Molesworth Street, and Kate Sheppard Place.
Metlink said buses would be detoured.
Speaker Trevor Mallard said Parliament's gounds would remain open, and while protests were welcome, they must only take place during daylight hours and not continue overnight.
Barricades set up outside Parliament in Wellington on 21 August 2022. Photo: RNZ / Giles Dexter
At Monday's post-Cabinet media briefing, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she did not intend to engage with the protesters planning to arrive at Parliament this week.
"Parliament is a place where of course over many years we have welcomed peaceful and lawful process ... but of course what's most important is that it remains peaceful and lawful."
She said the grounds were open and New Zealand as a democracy had historically and would continue to welcome peaceful and lawful protest.
"But of course we did have a recent experience that came at great expense to Parliament and its grounds, so it's only natural to see those extra assurances in place to make sure that protest occurs in a way that doesn't leave significant damage in the aftermath.
"Ultimately the way in which a protest conducts itself will ultimately be up to the organisers... I'm not entirely sure of actually the purpose of (this) protest ... but that's for them."
She would be attending Parliament as per usual on Tuesday.
