Two men have been arrested after protesters gathered outside an Auckland hotel ahead of a post-Budget speech by Prime Minister John Key today.
About 100 protesters chanted "shame, shame, shame" and tried to stop members of a business forum as they made their way inside the Langham Hotel in central Auckland for the Prime Minister's address.
A 20-strong group of police was present to control the protesters, including students, from blocking the entrance to the hotel.
-
Related
Supporters of the Auckland Action Against Poverty group made several attempts to break through police lines, and two men were arrested.
Two of the Urewera Four, Urs Signer and Emily Bailey, were involved in the protest against the Budget just a day after Tame Iti and Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara were sentenced to two and a half years in jail.
"I'm just here to support the kaupapa," Signer said.
The group was protesting against welfare reforms outlined in yesterday's Budget, saying it will make things even harder for those on a low income or benefit.
They are calling it class warfare and chanted: "Stop the war on the poor".
One woman said the Budget was "basically an attack on the working class, on beneficiaries, on the poor, on students, on children".
And beneficiary Phil McNeale said: "It will create a bigger gap between the rich and the poor. What we need are jobs, we don't need beneficiaries harassed, to go out for work that doesn't exist."
Inside Key defended the Government's record.
"We've maintained working for families, interest free student loans. We've insulated hundreds of thousands of homes. We've doubled the amount of money going to rheumatic fever.
"I mean I don't think people can seriously say this isn't a Government that's really trying to help all sectors of the community."
But protesters are not convinced and former Green Party MP Sue Bradford said they are expecting a lot more action in the months ahead.
'Where are the jobs John?'
Earlier this morning, the 40-strong group picketed John Key's post-Budget breakfast address to the Northern Region National Party at the Waipuna Hotel in east Auckland.
Protesters hung a banner from the roof of the hotel which read "Where are the jobs, John?".
"We are keen to let John Key and his Government know that some of us do not accept their hard-hearted approach to unemployment, welfare and poverty," said Bradford.
Finance Minister Bill English taunted student protesters earlier today who yesterday blockaded an Auckland street saying "they need some Greeks to show them how to do it".
About 400 "Blockade the Budget" protesters took to the streets yesterday chanting "no ifs, no buts, no education cuts" in a protest against changes to student loans and allowances in this year's Budget.