Nick Mills condemns protesters set to descend on Wellington

This morning we hear that a nationwide UN conference, set to be held in Wellington, has been moved online due to safety concerns.

The move comes as authorities expect potential chaos in the capital over the next few days, as several groups of protesters including one led by Brian Tamaki are set to arrive into Wellington.

The United Nations Association of New Zealand was to have its conference at parliament on Thursday, the focus being on sustainable development.

However, the event had become a target of fringe groups and a decision was made last week to move it online, following Parliamentary Services' advice.

Misinformation was also being shared online, including by Brian Tamaki, who falsely claimed that the organisation was linked to BlackRock and the World Economic Reform.

But unfortunately it gets worse.

Parliament is bracing for a large protest from midday on Thursday with additional security measures to be put in place.

Now, we as Wellingtonians are being asked to work from home if possible.

So once again, productivity in every form in Wellington will be disadvantaged by protesters.

We all know the Destiny Church founder Brian Tamaki was heavily involved in the occupation at parliament last year, and in August 2022 he held a peoples' court on Parliament's steps for crimes against Kiwis.

So cringe.

Why do we allow these groups to come into our capital city and disrupt the whole city?

I understand the right to protest in a peaceful manner.

But what I don't understand, is how any group can cause so much disruption in a capital city.

Especially when it prevents people going about their normal day.

Have we not learned anything from previous protests?

The big disappointment for me here is we as a city are getting hugely disadvantaged.

We have one of the biggest events in our calendar on right now, WOW.

Visitors are arriving from around New Zealand and some even from overseas.

All while we are told to work from home, because of a protest.

No thank you.

I will not work from home. I will still go to WOW. I will still walk down Lambton Quay. I will still go about my normal day.

Why? Because I live here and it's my city.

Protesters, if you come into our city, and and march, and protest, do it under out rules, not yours.

Let us who live and go about our day as normal.

As I've said, we have a right to protest in New Zealand and I support that right.

But I certainly don't support any protest that disrupts our city, affects our productivity, and most of all has authorities worried about our safety.

As soon as public safety is involved, that's where we should be drawing the line.

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