New Zealand is hit by Canada-style freedom convoy

New Zealand's capital was partially brought to a standstill today as a 'freedom convoy' of Covid protesters rolled into town and blocked roads around parliament. Hundreds of cars, trucks and motorbikes carrying thousands of people drove from across the country and converged in Wellington on Tuesday morning to protests against Jacinda Ardern's hardline pandemic policies. A freedom convoy of trucks, cars and motorbikes rolled into New Zealand's capital of Wellington today to protest mask and vaccine mandates while calling for the return of pre-Covid 'freedoms' Hundreds of vehicles carrying thousands of people has spent several days heading from the northern and southern-most points of the country to the capital of Wellington, where they snarled up traffic today Demonstrators painted their cars with slogans denouncing the government's Covid rules, which force people to wear masks in public placed and show vaccine certificates to enter certain businesses Drivers began arriving in Wellington Tuesday morning, snarling up roads before blocking streets around parliament where they then held rallies and gave speeches Protesters gather around New Zealand's main parliament building, where several have now pitched tents and declared they are in the city for the 'long haul' Placard-waving demonstrators are seen sitting outside New Zealand's main parliament building on Tuesday, protesting against the government's hardline Covid policies In New Zealand, Wellington local Stu Main said the protesters felt their concerns about rights being eroded were not being heard by the government. Hundreds of demonstrators gather to listen to speakers denouncing vaccine mandates and other Covid restrictions outside New Zealand's main parliament building in Wellington Despite protesters setting up makeshift camps and vowing to stay for weeks, Jacinda Ardern has said she will not be engaging with them while pushing ahead with plans to reopen international travel Flag-waving demonstrators pose for cameras in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, as they take part in protests against continued Covid restrictions affecting the country Banner-waving demonstrators, some of whom had driven hundreds of miles to reach Wellington, demonstrate outside New Zealand's main parliament building on Tuesday New Zealand's main parliament building is seen surrounded by a crowd of protesters, demonstrating against Covid restrictions as part of a 'freedom convoy' Journalists stand on the outside of parliament in Wellington, New Zealand, to record anti-Covid mandate demonstrators New Zealand was spared the worst of the pandemic after it closed its borders and implemented strict lockdowns, limiting the spread of the virus.