As stated by Inspector Stefan Sagar, Relieving Waitematā District Commander:
Police are reminding the public to expect significant delays on parts of the Auckland motorway network tomorrow.
A Police operation is monitoring protest activity in which organisers intend on marching across the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
Protestors will be gathering at Onepoto Domain, on the North Shore, before travelling south towards Victoria Park in central Auckland.
This will begin around 9am and will carry on to the afternoon.
It is expected that this protest activity will cause significant disruption to southbound traffic crossing over the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
Police advise motorists to adhere to NZ Transport Agency advice and use detours, including SH16 and 18, if possible.
Police planning, along with our transport partner agencies, is well advanced.
Our role concerns ensuring any protest activity is safe and lawful.
Large numbers of pedestrians accessing the Harbour Bridge pose significant safety risks to themselves, our Police staff, and other motorists.
Weather may also pose safety risks to pedestrians in that area.
While Police respect the right to protest, we have reiterated safety concerns to organisers as part of ongoing communication.
Our expectation is that protestors move safely and efficiently on the day.
Police are deploying significant resource to the operation and will be highly visible across the area.
We understand that this will cause disruption to the public's travel.
We are working closely with our transport partner agencies as part of this operation. Our focus is on ensuring everyone's safety.
As part of the operation, we will be utilising traffic management across the route to minimise expected disruption and to keep everyone safe.
Any issues that occur across the protest route will be dealt with appropriately by Police staff.
- Travellers are encouraged to check the NZTA Journey Planner, NZTA Auckland social media pages and AT website for the latest updates on diversions and public transport.
