Thousands have taken part in a nationwide protest against the sale of state-owned assets today.
Aotearoa NZ is Still Not For Sale (ANFS) demonstrations were held in 16 different centres across the country, in the group's most co-ordinated campaign to date.
In Auckland, it has been estimated that around 2000 protesters gathered at Britomart around 2pm.
-
Related
Protesters marched up Queen St chanting slogans like "stand up, fight back," before holding a 'people's hui' outside the Town Hall.
Police say that there had been no issues reported in Auckland's CBD in relation to today's march.
A similar event in Christchurch had around 500 participants.
Police said that the Christchurch protest, which began on Riccarton Rd, only caused a few minor traffic complaints, and protesters were generally "manageable."
Christchurch march organiser Sharna Butcher said that the protest will make Prime Minister John Key listen, and she was delighted so many New Zealand communities are standing up against asset sales.
However, bad weather seemed to deter protesters in Wellington, with only around 60 people gathering on Cuba Street.
Event organisers gathered signatures as part of a campaign to force a referendum on the issue, but the outcome of such a petition will not be binding.
"National voters come out in support"
ANFS event organiser Miriam Pierard told ONE News, that "we've actually spoken to lots of National voters who have come out in support of us and have said they are ashamed of voting National."
Pierard said that the protesters are angry that the Government is vowing to go ahead with its plans to sell shares in the state-owned power company Mighty River Power, despite polls showing overwhelming opposition to the plan.
"I think obviously people are disheartened by what's happened. It's been rammed through Parliament with a very, very slim majority and submissions haven't been really listened to, and we haven't had that dialogue with the Government - which I think is the biggest problem here," she said.
The group is urging people to boycott the power companies supplied by Mighty River and not to buy its shares.
"If we sell these assets off, we might make a quick buck, we balance the Government's books, they're in it for another what? Three and a half years? This is our children's future," Pierard said.
Previously protesters held a mock auction at Key's house with toilet paper money.
Today's marches come as the Waitangi Tribunal considers a claim by the Maori Council over water rights.
The hearing continues on Monday, with the tribunal expected to release its findings in about a month.