PROTESTER numbers swelled outside the Parliament in New Zealand today, as police scaled back efforts to clear anti-vaccine demonstrators involved in violent clashes a day earlier.

A festive mood prevails at a makeshift tent settlement that inhabitants have dubbed “Camp Freedom”, with music and dancing, as police look on from behind barricades.

It was a stark contrast to the fiery scenes yesterday, when officers attempted to evict the protesters, arresting 122 people and using pepper spray to quell scuffles.

Wellington police described the hands-off tactics as a “measured approach”, pointing to the presence of children among the crowd.

“Police are continuing to monitor and contain the protest activity at Parliament grounds,” said Corrie Parnell in a statement.

“Police have identified a range of different causes and motivations among the protesters, making it difficult to open clear and meaningful lines of communication.”

Activists have been camping on the lawns of the premises for four days in a protest that started on Tuesday, as a copycat of the “Freedom Convoy” action by Canadian truckers in Ottawa.

The parliamentary precinct has been declared closed to the public, but the measure has not been strictly enforced and the number of protesters on the lawns has increased from about 250 to about 1,500 throughout today.

A protester named Carrie, who declined to give her surname, said the activists remain committed to their goal of ending vaccine mandates.

“The way police handled us has shocked us all to the core.

“What they did yesterday was way beyond any of our expectation. Brutal, absolutely brutal.”

New Zealand requires mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations for people working in sectors such as defence, education, health and law enforcement, with those who refuse the shot facing the sack.

Proof of vaccination must also be shown to enter restaurants, sports events and religious services. – AFP, February 11, 2022.