New Zealand’s former deputy prime minister, Winston Peters, has been banned from parliament grounds for two years for visiting anti-vaccine-mandate protesters who occupied the grounds.
The weeks-long February protests, modelled on the Canadian truckers’ “freedom convoy”, took over parliament grounds and blocked off a number of surrounding streets. In the first days of the occupation, the speaker issued a trespass notice to all attendees. But efforts by police to disperse the gathering were repeatedly repelled, until it descended into a violent riot, with at least 40 injured, while tents, piles of rubble and a playground were set aflame.
Peters, who was deputy prime minister in Jacinda Ardern’s first coalition government, had visited the occupation in its earlier days, saying, “I hope to encourage the protesters to demand that they be heard.”
Peters on Tuesday said he had received a two-year trespass notice for that visit, blaming House speaker Trevor Mallard for the decision. “This dictatorial behaviour … should be reserved for third world banana republics,” he said in a statement quoted by Newshub.
“What’s more astounding is that the speaker of the House of Representatives in our country could possibly attempt to trespass former members of parliament – of whom some are leaders of political parties planning to run against the sitting government in around eighteen months’ time.”
There was a difference between those who visited the precinct and those who took an “active part in the protest”, he added.
Peters lost his parliamentary spot after his party failed to win 5% of the vote, but says he intends to run in the next election. He was not the only one to receive a trespass notice. Ex-National party MP Matt King, who also plans to run in the next New Zealand election with the newly formed Democracy NZ party, received a notice in late April. Violation of the notices could result in a fine of up to a $1,000 or up to three months’ imprisonment.
In New Zealand, the speaker has responsibility for parliament’s grounds and buildings. Mallard generated headlines for his unusual tactics in trying to evict the protesters from the lawn – including turning on the sprinklers, and blasting Barry Manilow from parliament’s loudspeakers. Often, those tactics appeared to backfire, galvanising rather than discouraging the crowds.
Ardern told Stuff the decision rested with Mallard, but she had asked that he discuss the decision with all parties to try to reach consensus.
“Ultimately, this does sit with the Speaker, but I think it is useful for parties to be able to hear him out about how he came to the decision and to make a joint decision, as much as they’re able to, about whether or not MPs should ultimately be treated differently than everyone else.”
Mallard did not respond to a request for comment.
