She said the disruption caused by the protest had been “extraordinary” and told those in attendance their point had been made and it was time for them to go home.
“The protesters have had their say, it is time they go home and now obviously the police are taking action to ensure it doesn’t grow and to ensure that the disruption, or where people are behaving illegally, that that is addressed.”
She said the government and a “significant majority” of New Zealanders had been “extremely distressed” by the events in Wellington but noted the “important separation” between the police and government.
“The law is very clear on this, and rightly so: government cannot and should not ever be able to instruct the police as to how they enforce the law or when they enforce the law.”
Ardern said this morning’s police action was intended to prevent the occupation from growing larger and that she had been briefed by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster on what to expect once she arrived at Parliament.
“I think the message that’s being sent here is that the police are forming, essentially a barricade around the edges of the protest.
“Ultimately, all of this would be resolved if simply people went home.”
Source: ‘The point has been made’: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tells protesters to go home | RNZ News
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