Police suppress media at Anti-Bypass march

Over 100 protesters marched through busy Wellington streets at Midday to
challenge the construction of the Te Aro 'Bypass'. The mood of the protest was
buoyant and defiant. As the march approached Tonks Ave, it became louder as
police rapidly moved to obstruct protesters from walking through to Tonks Ave.
As pushing escalated between police and protesters, the police quickly arrested
the media who were closest to action.

A TV3 cameraman and a photographer for the Wellingtonian newspaper were
violently arrested as they recorded the stand-off. The TV3 cameraman was later
charged with Assaulting a Police Officer - who was attempting to confiscate his
camera, while the photographer has been charged with Obstruction. There were
repeated demands made by the police to "stop taking photographs".

[
Police Arrest Media at Anti-Bypass Protest | Creative obstruction to Bypass destruction |
Protest route
]

The marchers then broke off and ran to a side entrance to Tonks Ave., but
were again greeted by police. A stand-off developed as a number of protesters
challenged the police's right to obstruct access to what they believed was a
public access way. Police assaulted two people as they gathered outside the
Stagecraft Theatre. A man pushed off a 2 metre ledge and a woman was struck
in the stomach.

Although long-serving police liaison officer Paul Berry refused to answer
the protester's questions at the time, as the crowd dispersed he did state that
it was transit land. However, initial legal advice indicates that he was
misleading the activists.

Protestors felt frustrated. Toni McPhail said "it's clear where we stand
now, we're not allowed into the heart of Wellington, and one of the first
examples of European settlement. The Police used unnecessary force, and
escalated the situation."

Te Aro is the first area of European settlement in Wellington city. European
settlers first landed in Petone in 1839, but after flooding and the 1855
earthquake, settlers started migrating towards Te Aro flats. Tonks Ave. is
historically important as it is one of the last examples of early colonial
working life in Wellington.

The connection between Shell and "Bypass" construction company Fulton Hogan
was also raised by marchers. Shell is the majority shareholder with 37% of
shares in the road construction company and their interest in building roads is
obvious. Shell is responsible for serious human rights abuses in several
countries.

The protest ended at Kensington St community gardens with free vegan soup
and bread.

Related

http://cbc.org.nz

http://nobypass.co.nz