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 Police in riot gear battled protesters late into the night on
Wednesday, finally bringing an end to the occupation which, despite
acts of violence and extremist elements, helped rally some support
for its calls to end pandemic restrictions.
In a special session of parliament to discuss the protest, the most
violent in decades in the normally peaceful city, Ardern promised
things would change, but gave no timeframe for easing curbs.
"Our people are coming home. Soon, tourists will return. Vaccine
passes, mandates, restrictions – they will all change. There is
reason to feel hopeful," she said.
A one-time poster child for tackling the coronavirus, New Zealand's
swift response to the pandemic and its geographic isolation kept the
country largely COVID-19 free until the end of last year, winning
Ardern strong support. Total deaths stand at just 56.
However, anger over vaccine mandates for people working in sectors
such as health and education and strict border closures have put
pressure on the government to now soften its stance in line with
much of the rest of the world.
"Ardern has to weave a path between acknowledging some of the
government's mistakes without appearing like the protesters had a
point," said Andrew Hughes from the Research School of Management at
Australian National University.
"She can't be seen condoning their behaviour but she also can't be
seen as tone deaf."
A Horizon Research snap poll released on Feb. 18 found 30% of those
polled supported the protests and about the same percentage was
opposed to Ardern's vaccine mandate policy.
Some local businesses helped fund the encampment and well known
figures such as Olympic yachtsman Russell Coutts, Winston Peters, a
former deputy prime minister under Ardern, and former prime minister
Jim Bolger urged dialogue.
"I'm not anti-vaccine (I'm vaccinated) but I'm definitely against
forced vaccinations," Coutts said in a Facebook post two weeks ago.
Ardern refused to meet the protesters, who she said had resorted to
violence and bullying.
[to top of second column] |
 OMICRON SHIFT
The country of 5 million has a high COVID
vaccination rate, with more than 95% of the
eligible population double vaccinated. More than
70% of people have had a booster dose.
COVID-19 cases were restricted to fewer than
15,000 in total by end-2021 through a strict
elimination approach, but the arrival of the
Omicron variant has seen cases top 20,000 a day,
reaching a cumulative total of nearly 150,000 on
Thursday.
The government says restrictions that have
frayed the public's patience are set to stay in
place until at least mid-March, when the Omicron
surge is expected to peak.
The saga has dented Ardern's popularity since
she won a second term in a landslide election
victory in 2020.
Her support fell to 35%, its lowest level since
she became prime minister in 2017, according to
a 1News Kantar Public poll at the end of
January. However, Ardern remains preferred prime
minister and her centre-left coalition
government is still on course to win the next
election in late 2023.
The government has made some changes to its
tough stand on borders that prevented many Kiwis
from returning home due to a compulsory stay in
limited quarantine facilities.
But the border remains closed to foreigners,
unlike in neighbouring Australia which relaxed
curbs this month.
Ardern said last week that her cabinet may bring
forward the entry of foreign tourists from the
current proposed date of October, but again gave
no timeframe.
"Unquestionably Ardern's elimination strategy
was a massive success and saved lots of lives,"
said Martin Newell, a spokesman for Grounded
Kiwis, representing overseas New Zealanders.
 "But with Omicron the government just seems to
have been mentally unprepared for a shift in its
approach."
(Reporting by Praveen Menon; editing by Richard
Pullin)
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