Hīkoi to Parliament: SH1 blocked in both directions at Levin as thousands of protesters head towards Parliament

State Highway 1 was blocked this afternoon in both directions north of Wellington as the hīkoi mo te Tiriti heads south towards Parliament.

The New Zealand Transport Agency said just after 1.30pm the highway was congested and blocked between Tyne and Bath streets in Levin.

At 2.20pm it issued another statement saying SH1 was now fully open and thanking motorists for their patience.

A pōwhiri is being held at 4pm today in Porirua, welcoming supporters of the demonstration.

Police are expecting up to 30,000 people in Wellington on Tuesday, as the hīkoi makes its way to Parliament.

Today’s SH1 blockage follows widespread disruption in Auckland last week when thousands of hīkoi protesters marched across Auckland Harbour Bridge during the morning rush hour.

Protesters have also gathered today in New Plymouth as part of the hīkoi.

And earlier today close to 10,000 people marched on central Hastings and then down SH2 through Hawke’s Bay.

Police said there were no significant issues at Saturday’s march or the subsequent drive through Waipawa, Waipukurau and Dannevirke.

The hīkoi, making its way to Wellington while protesting Government policies including the Treaty Principles Bill introduced by Act leader David Seymour, is due to arrive at Parliament on Tuesday.

The march began at the Hastings clocktower on a drizzly Saturday about 10am and had finished by around noon, bolstered by the original group and a convoy from the east coast.

In towns up and down State Highway 2 from Pakipaki to Takapau, locals then greeted the convoy by waving flags on the side of the road as it passed.