Against COVID-19 Lockdown And Vaccination, Thousands Of New Zealanders Hold Protests In Wellington

Illustration of a demonstration against the COVID-19 lockdown. (Wikimedia Commons/michael_swan)

JAKARTA - Thousands of people marched in New Zealand's capital, Wellington, on Thursday to protest against the COVID-19 vaccination mandate and lockdown, as the country reaches its 90 percent full vaccination milestone.

New Zealand's tough lockdown and vaccination push have helped keep coronavirus infections and related deaths low, but have also drawn criticism from some who are calling for more freedom and an end to mandatory COVID-19 vaccine requirements.

It is known, the New Zealand Government has mandated vaccination for teachers, workers in the health and disability sector, police and other public service sectors.

Protesters, mostly removing masks, marched through Wellington's central business district, gathering in front of the parliament building, known as Beehive, citing Reuters December 16.

Security was stepped up in Beehive with entrances closed and dozens of police deployed.

Some of the peaceful protesters held cartons with messages such as "Freedom over fear", "lockdown destroys lives" and "Kiwis are not lab rats". Another has a sign bearing the slogan "Make America Great Again" by former US President Donald Trump.

Under mounting pressure, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern eased most of the restrictions ahead of the Christmas holiday, abandoning the old strategy of eliminating the coronavirus for a new "traffic light" system living with the virus through higher vaccinations.

Meanwhile, the South Pacific island nation's international borders remain closed from the outside world and will only be opened gradually starting next year.

Earlier, the Government said 90 per cent of New Zealand's eligible population, or about 3.8 million people, had been fully vaccinated. And, local health regulators gave provisional approval for the use of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11.