Protestors turned back at northern checkpoint

There was an increased Police presence at the northern Auckland regional boundary near Te Hana this morning as a protest group attempted to cross into Northland.

A group identifying itself as “the hikoi of truth” announced this week that its members would travel to Waitangi for a demonstration.

A small convoy of protestors from West Auckland were stopped by Police attempting to cross the northern border this morning. When turned back, they parked in Te Hana.

One of the protestors, Tony, said he had come from Karekare and was in Te Hana awaiting another convoy from Silverdale. He said the group intended to form a queue at the northern checkpoint and cause a disruption to make its point.

“We want people to ask questions over the loss of our medical freedoms,” he said.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua chief operating officer Antony Thompson was at the border to “mitigate” any hikoi that might arrive.

Mr Thompson said he was concerned that an anti-vaccination group had labelled itself as representing Maori under the banner of a hikoi.

“They call this a hikoi, but it’s a collective of various groups linked to anti-vaxers that has been organised badly,” Mr Thompson said.

He said that until the convoy at Te Hana disbanded, he and his staff were stuck waiting at the border.

“Right now we would rather be giving vaccinations at Te Ha Oranga health clinic, but the staff have to be here because we have a commitment to the border.

“This hikoi really is a hōhā (nuisance).”

Ngāti Whātua has been collaborating with Police at the northern checkpoint across successive lockdowns.  

Mr Thompson said Ngāti Whātua respected that people be allowed to make their own medical choices, but based “on the right education and facts”.

Police say they are continuing to monitor convoys that claim to be a part of the hikoi.

They say that around 50 protestors arrived on the northern side of the border this morning but returned north peacefully following negotiations with an iwi liaison. 

Meanwhile, at the southern regional border, a group of about 50 vehicles was stopped by Police around midnight last night.

Protestors parked a bus in the road and then attempted to cross the boundary on foot. A Police line was used to remove the protestors from the highway.