Key Takeaways
- The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has declined a request from the Freedom and Rights Coalition to access the Auckland Harbour Bridge for a protest event on January 31.
- The NZTA cited safety concerns and disruption to the transport network as reasons for declining the request.
- Police have warned that any unlawful access to the motorway would be met with enforcement action and have offered to work with organisers to find a suitable location for a peaceful and lawful protest.
- The Auckland Harbour Bridge is a critical transport asset and is not designed for use by pedestrians, with large groups of people walking across the bridge generating swaying and vibrations that can cause damage to the structure.
- The timing and duration of protest events on the bridge can cause substantial disruption to Auckland’s transport network and put lives at risk due to attendees’ proximity to live traffic and disruption to emergency services.
Introduction to the Protest
The Freedom and Rights Coalition, a protest group associated with Brian Tamaki, had planned to hold a protest event on the Auckland Harbour Bridge on January 31. However, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has declined the group’s request to access the bridge, citing safety concerns and disruption to the transport network. According to Andrew Clark, national manager maintenance and operations at NZTA, there is a very high threshold for accepting requests to access the bridge for special events. The NZTA declined the request for access on January 31 because the traffic management plan provided did not meet the criteria.
Safety Concerns and Transport Disruption
The Auckland Harbour Bridge is New Zealand’s most critical transport asset and is designed for a steady flow of vehicles, not for use by pedestrians. Large groups of people walking across the bridge can generate swaying and vibrations that can cause damage to the structure. Clark explained that the bridge is not designed for use by pedestrians and that large groups of people walking across the bridge can cause substantial disruption to Auckland’s transport network. The timing and duration of these sorts of events can also cause widespread disruption to the transport network, putting lives at risk due to attendees’ proximity to live traffic and disruption to emergency services.
Police Planning and Enforcement
Police have been planning for the protest event and have warned that any unlawful access to the motorway would be met with enforcement action. Superintendent Naila Hassan stated that police recognise the right to peaceful and lawful protest, but any access to the motorway network requires a permit, and as no such permit has been issued, any protest action on the Auckland Harbour Bridge would be unlawful. Police have also been advised that recent marches on the ‘clip-on’ lanes posed a risk of damage to infrastructure and put participants at risk of serious injury. As a result, police have changed their position on facilitating any future access for marching across the bridge.
Alternative Locations for Protest
Hassan said that police had offered to work with organisers to find a suitable location for a peaceful and lawful protest. The right to protest must be balanced against the rights of the community and road users to go about their lawful activities. Any protest action through the centre lanes of the bridge would most likely force the closure of at least all lanes in one direction of the bridge, putting lives at risk due to attendees’ proximity to live traffic and disruption to emergency services. The police’s primary concern is to ensure the safety of all individuals involved and to minimize disruption to the transport network.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The decline of the permit request by the NZTA and the police’s warning against unlawful access to the motorway have significant implications for the planned protest event. The Freedom and Rights Coalition may need to reconsider their plans and work with police to find an alternative location for their protest. The Auckland Harbour Bridge is a critical transport asset, and it is essential to prioritize the safety of all individuals involved and minimize disruption to the transport network. As the situation develops, it will be important to monitor the actions of the protest group and the responses of the NZTA and police to ensure that the rights of all individuals are respected and that public safety is maintained.