Second nationwide protest in the streets planned by Groundswell NZ

Friday, 17 September 2021

Tractors and utes involved in the Groundswell protest in July drove past the Cathedral Square in central Christchurch as supporters cheered them on. The protest gridlocked traffic in parts of the city.

The protest plan remains the same – Groundswell NZ wants you to drive your ute, truck or tractor to town to show your frustration with certain Government regulations, which the group says are unworkable.

Groundswell NZ have released plans about its nationwide Mother Of All Protests, which will be held at 1pm on Sunday, November 21.

The plan is for supporters to drive their utes, tractors, trucks or cars to their nearest town centre, where the group’s statement will be played over the Newstalk ZB frequency, co-founder Bryce McKenzie said.

“We’re not happy with the way the Government is not taking any notice of the people of New Zealand,’’ he said.

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Farmers with their families, tractors, utes and dogs at the Groundswell NZ protest in Gore

West Otago farmers McKenzie and Laurie Paterson founded Groundswell NZ last year to protest against “unworkable regulations”.

It wants freshwater improvement to be managed by catchment groups, and rules about significant natural areas and the ‘ute tax’ to be re-written or abolished.

The group held its ‘Howl of A Protest’ in July, and it estimated 60,000 people drove tractors, trucks and utes down main streets in more than 50 locations throughout the country.

Talking about the planned November protest, McKenzie said “we think it will be quite a spectacle, being a Sunday there will be a lot more people who can go along.’’

Those taking part will turn up the volume of the radio, turn off their engines, open the windows and stand together in protest, he said.

The plan wasn’t to gridlock New Zealand, although in some places it would probably be inevitable.

“We’ve got the trucks all organised this time and there’s going to be a lot more of those. We’ve opened it up this time so it’s not just for farmers – the feedback we’re getting is that it’s not just farmers that are getting frustrated with the Government, and people want a way to show they’re frustrated.’’

And after some backlash because of some signage at the last protest in July, the group is offering a list of plackard slogans for the next protest.

Groundswell NZ plans to hold a Groundswell Gathering in February at Parliament.

McKenzie said Groundswell NZ was yet to hear from the Government following the July protest. It had requested a meeting with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern but that had been declined.

“We don’t feel let down that we haven’t been acknowledged. We expect to see change and there has been some of that through a review of the winter grazing rules, so that’s positive progress.

“We’re not in it for ourselves, and the fact that these things are being addressed is the progress we’re looking for,” McKenzie said.