What happened during the Wellington protest against Jacinda Ardern’s government in February 2022?

In February 2022, a large convoy of trucks and cars arrived in Wellington to demonstrate against the government of Jacinda Ardern. The protesters were primarily objecting to the government’s COVID-19 policies, including lockdowns and vaccine mandates, as well as broader economic concerns like the rising cost of living.21

Following a strategy similar to that used by hard-line conservatives in Canada, the demonstrators brought traffic to a standstill and disrupted daily life in the capital. The protesters camped outside the New Zealand parliament for several weeks, during which time they set fire to tents and mattresses. The occupation eventually ended when law enforcement officials forcibly removed the demonstrators, resulting in the arrest of scores of individuals.21