NEW Zealand anti-vaccination demonstrators set alight their own protest camp outside Parliament today, after riot police moved to end their weeks-long occupation of the legislative precinct.

Hundreds of officers used perspex shields and pepper spray to force back protesters, who responded by pelting them with chairs, bottles and paint bombs.

When it became apparent that police are winning the battle for control of the makeshift tent city that sprang up on Parliament’s lawns three weeks ago, the demonstrators torched it themselves.

“This is not over,” yelled one man, while others chanted “Shame on you” at advancing officers, as a thick pall of black smoke enveloped the area.

Police deployed an ear-splitting sonic cannon to help disperse the crowd and made dozens of arrests in an operation that began just before dawn.

Speaking to reporters after initial skirmishes took place just a few hundred metres away, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern backed the force’s tough tactics.

She said what began as a movement against coronavirus vaccine mandates – inspired by similar protests in Canada – had turned toxic, describing demonstrators’ conduct as “disgraceful”.

“The protest has been, at times, violent. Increasingly, we find misinformation and sadly conspiracy theories,” she said, labelling the camp a health risk for residents in Wellington.

“It has become a location of interest. We know Covid-19 has circulated within the protest and there have been hospitalisations as a result.”

‘It needs to end’

Police spent the morning clearing roads around the legislature, using a large forklift truck to remove cars and campervans that arrived in the capital in a convoy on February 8 and were used to jam downtown streets.

They turned to the protest’s epicentre on Parliament’s lawns in the afternoon, where about 3,000 people congregated at the height of the demonstration about two weeks ago.

Numbers have since dwindled to a hard core of about 300, and police commissioner Andrew Coster said they have shown a willingness to use violence.

“We have seen tactics (from protesters) today, including spraying fire extinguishers at the police line, the throwing of paint; early on we saw weapons.”

He said police are not seeking confrontation, but added: “This protest has now tipped over a balance and it now needs to end.”

At least three officers received minor injuries in the operation to clear the precinct, which left a few dozen angry protesters milling on nearby streets yelling insults.

The operation came after vocal criticism from locals about the hands-off approach previously adopted towards the demonstrators.

Residents have complained about being abused by protesters for wearing masks, while businesses and schools near the camp have shut for safety reasons.

In recent weeks, police accused protesters of hurling human faeces at them, spraying a “stinging substance” at officers and slashing tyres on police cars.

Parliamentary officials initially tried to clear the grounds by playing pop music and children’s song Baby Shark on a loop, but stopped after police criticised the tactic.

Coster said efforts to “de-escalate” the situation and end the protest without resorting to force have stalled.

“We reached the stage where protest leaders are unwilling or unable to effect meaningful change.” – AFP, March 2, 2022.