A muddled message rang out as thousands took to the streets of
Auckland in a so-called march for democracy.
Organisers didn't get the massive numbers they were hoping
for.
They had wanted it to be the biggest march in New Zealand's history, but at times it was hard to understand what they were protesting against.
With printed placards and police escorts, the march along Queen Street was unmissable.
"We want democracy. When do we want it? Now," they chanted, along with "John Key listen to me".
But judging by some of the banners the message was less clear cut.
The march organiser, Auckland businessman Colin Craig, was asked what he wants to see changed.
"What I want to see changed is I want to see the government of New Zealand listen to large votes from the people of this country," he replies.
Asked if that means he wants to see citizens-initiated referendums become binding, he replies, "I don't have that agenda".
Advertised as a march for democracy, Craig spent hundreds of thousands of dollars organising the protest.
He wants previous citizen's-initiated referenda to become law, saying the government failed to respond to referendums on reducing the number of MPs, a more victim-centred justice system and amending the anti-smacking legislation.
"My agenda is that we've had three. There was a large majority. I think that any government that respects the people will see 80% as binding," he says.
An opponent of the march, Martyn Bradbury, says the protest was really about narrow issues.
"I think if you want to have a debate about the mechanics of non-binding referendum and the mechanics of participatory democracy then let's drop it. But that's not what this is about. This is about trying to pretend narrow conservative social issues have a wider broad base than they actually do."
Craig says he did not receive any funding from any political parties or church groups.
They were marching under one banner but there were groups representing several different issues. Three separate pamphlets from three separate groups all outlined their own agendas.
For many, the main agenda was the government's controversial
anti-smacking legislation.
"I am for parents not being accused as child bashers just because
they show a little discipline," says one man.
A woman marcher says Key asked New Zealanders to vote in the referendum but hasn't listened to the result.
Marchers listened to speeches by the Sensible Sentencing Trust's Garth McVicar, speaking on law and order, Margaret Robinson on reducing the number of MPs, and Family and Child Trust advocate Bev Adair and anti-smacking referendum sponsor Sheryl Savill on the anti-smacking laws.
There was just one arrest. ONE News filmed a protester pushing
through police after trying to take the stage.
"This country is a dictatorship, nothing but a dictatorship," says
the arrested man.
But with several thousand peaceful supporters, Craig says his next stop is a visit to parliament.
Is the government listening to the people? Should the government be legally compelled to act on the outcome of citizens-initiated referendums? Have your say on our messageboard below.
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