Watch: A walk through the Parliamentary occupation site

Wednesday, 16 February 2022

Walking through the protest on the grounds of Parliament on Tuesday night. The occupation has taken on a festival-like atmosphere.

The protesters who have taken over the area around Parliament and brought the government precinct to a standstill don’t appear to be going anywhere any time soon. In fact, the camp, which on Wednesday enters its ninth day, has taken on air of permanence, with hippy nirvana vibes.

Over the past week, the group of protesters, which has peaked at about 3000 people, have not only become heavily entrenched but are now well resourced and self-sufficient.

Among the 400-500 people who are on the grounds each day, there's barely a mask in sight.

But there is an admin tent and a medical centre, a recovery room and on-site laundry service. There’s a live mic tent with a makeshift stage and audio equipment powered by a large generator. On Tuesday night, protesters were dancing under flashing lights to “You shook me all night long” by AC/DC.

Food at the protest site is hot, and plentiful.

There’s a collection of food trucks that would rival any music festival. What started with a free sausage sizzle under a gazebo has spawned into several food tents, with a variety of hot meals on offer – everything from spaghetti on toast for breakfast to vegan curries for dinner.

Milling around the occupation grounds is a team of self-designated security officers, wearing matching hi-vis vests and communicating via walkie-talkies.

The reiki and massage tent at the protest site.

The admin tent was busy on Wednesday morning with people lining up for advice.

We’ll take you on a tour to show you the challenge of moving on these protesters.

**READ MORE:

* Protest vehicle towing to begin 'shortly' but could have started days ago - police

* Convoy protest: Prime Minister says Parliament's approach to protests will likely be reviewed following occupation

A play area for children offers toys, puzzles and drawing.

Free clothing is available at the women’s and children's lounge.

* Govt rejects call to negotiate with protesters, who demand an end to all Covid-19 public health measures

Several Hare Krishnas have now set up at the occupation site.

A crowd dances along to music at the Hare Krishna tent.

One of the many tents offering medical assistance and food.

The admin tent

Just inside one of the entrances to Parliament grounds, past the dedicated “security” in hi-viz vests, is an admin tent.

First aid volunteer Jase Stewart, right, assists Sammy Trimmer of Golden Bay.

This is where protesters can go for any trouble. Legal advice is also on offer for those who may have been injured or arrested during the clash with police last week. A sign at the entrance says counselling services are also available by appointment. It also works as a collection point for the protest laundry service.

The live mic tent

A makeshift ambulance is operating out of a truck parked on Molesworth St.

The streets around the protest are gridlocked.

Molesworth St has become an outdoor food court.

Chalk has often been used during the protest. It started with threatening messages on Parliament’s forecourt to politicians and the media. Now the wall below the Beehive contains a variety of messages.

Portaloos at the protest site are serviced every day.

There’s a stage and a sound system, lights and speakers.Those who want to perform put their names on a whiteboard, while the crowd watches from rows of seats, including a couch large enough to fit three people.

The relaxation lounge

Another tent has become a rest and relaxation “lounge” for children and women. On Tuesday night, half a dozen children occupied the tent’s play area, using puzzles, toys and colouring-in books.Out front is three large containers filled with free gumboots, socks, ponchos, and emergency blankets – “Please take what you need” a sign reads.

The Hare Krishna tent

One of the loudest tents is filled with Hare Krishnas, dancing, and singing. Yoga and meditation is also on offer. At dinnertime the largest line is for Hare Krishna food – curries and samosas.

The Wellington Hare Krishna temple distanced itself from the activities. “None of them are from our temple,” manager Jagdish Prasad said. “At our temple we are all 100 per cent vaccinated. It would be totally wrong for them to represent Hare Krishna as supporting the protest.”

The medical tent

There’s a well-staffed medical tent where medics tend to protesters’ wounds. Jase Stewart, of Manawatū, has been providing first aid in one of several tents providing medical care. “Every morning, I load up my medical kit and look for people in need – take people throat lozenges, vitamin C, and dress blisters,” he said.

Stewart’s trained in first aid but was working as an engineer before the protests started. The camp has a team of people, including trained nurses and paramedics who are providing first aid, he said.

A makeshift ambulance operating out the back of a truck is parked on Molesworth St.

“This many people in this sort of space, we get everything from a small cut on the finger to chest pains, to diabetic episodes,” Stewart said.

During the wet weekend, Stewart and his team mainly treated people for sprained ankles – those who had slipped in the mud.

Others had been at risk of hypothermia and heaters were used.

Stewart hadn’t seen any signs of diarrhoea and vomiting, nor foot fungus or conjunctivitis, as has been previously speculated.

People had donated the first aid tents, as well as boxes of bottled water and multiple boxes of dry clothes, he said.

And some more photos our visual journalists have taken around the site: