Wellington Protest - Key events

James made this Official Information request to New Zealand Police

The request was successful.

From: James

Dear New Zealand Police,

I am seeking further information and clarification around key events that took place during the Wellington Parliament protests.

It was widely reported in the Media that Wellington protesters were armed with pitchforks.

As per an article by Spin off -
“In a statement, police said they were
disappointed to see protesters in posession of
various weapons. "These included, but were
not limited to, the use fire extinguishers as
weapons, a cord set up as a trip wire, paint-
filled projectiles, homemade plywood shields
and pitchforks," said a spokesperson.”

This is simply attributed to a Police spokesperson, please provide the full statement, time the statement was given and who was in attendance when the spokesperson gave the statement.
Please also provide the name of the Police spokesperson and the evidence provided to the media to authenticate his the statement.

It was stated on multiple occasions by the Police and the PM that during the protests at Wellington Parliment, police officers had Human waste and acid thrown at them and sexual assulats may have taken place. Please provide any communications including but not limited to texts, emails, records of phone calls between the Police and the Prime Minister, Police and Department of the Prime Minister, or the Police and the Minister of Police involving or referring to in any way the acid, human waste and sexual assaults.

Please provide any information supporting the Police claim that human waste was thrown at officers by protesters. How many protesters were arrested or charged with throwing human waste?

The Police publicly stated acid was thrown at officers by protesters. What evidence is this statement based on? When did the incident occur and exact time - this would have been logged in the incident report, Please provide a copy of the incident report.
What was the exact location of the incident and how many officers were affected? Were forensic swabs taken of the officers clothing, if not why not? Immediately after the incident in the minutes that followed, while the officers were receiving medical attention, did any of the officers remove their shirts or pants, what was done with the items of clothing removed? What were the symptoms of the affected officers? What was the time the officers involved arrived at the hospital/medical clinic seeking further treatment? How long after the incident and at what location were swabs taken from the officers of the suspected substance.

Assistant Comissioner, Richard Chambers publicly stated that sexual assaults may have taken place within the Wellington protest camp. Please provide the number of arrests or people charged with sexual assaults at the protest camp.
How many formal complaints were made to Police concerning the alleged sexual assaults? What evidence or claims did Commisioner Chambers base his statement on?
If this was simply based on being aware of discussions that occured within the "lawful protesters" as stated by Chambers, while also stating he was not aware of anyone that had actually come forward at that point- What steps if any did Police take to authenticate these discusions were genuine? Please provide any information showing Police took steps to engage and discuss the alleged sexual assulats, directly with the lawful protesters. If police directly discussed the allegations with the group concerned, please provide information detailing the discussions and outcome.

Yours faithfully,

James

Link to this

From: Ministerial Services
New Zealand Police

Tēnā koe James

I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request below, received by Police on 9 December 2022.

Your reference number is IR-01-22-38395.

Please note, as per section 2 of the OIA, the three weeks between 25 December 2022 and 15 January 2023 do not count as working days. You can expect a response to your request on or before 27 January 2023 unless an extension is needed.

Ngā mihi
Catherine
Ministerial Services
Police National Headquarters

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From: Ministerial Services
New Zealand Police


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Tēnā koe James

 

I refer to your request of 9 December 2022 for the following information:

 

I am seeking further information and clarification around key events that
took place during the Wellington Parliament protests.

 

It was widely reported in the Media that Wellington protesters were armed
with pitchforks.

 

As per an article by Spin off -

“In a statement, police said they were

disappointed to see protesters in posession of various weapons. "These
included, but were not limited to, the use fire extinguishers as weapons,
a cord set up as a trip wire, paint- filled projectiles, homemade plywood
shields and pitchforks," said a spokesperson.”

 

This is simply attributed to a Police spokesperson, please provide the
full statement, time the statement was given and who was in attendance
when the spokesperson gave the statement.

Please also provide the name of the Police spokesperson and the evidence
provided to the media to authenticate his the statement.

 

It was stated on multiple occasions by the Police and the PM that during
the protests at Wellington Parliment, police officers had Human waste and
acid thrown at them and sexual assulats may have taken place. Please
provide any communications including but not limited to texts, emails,
records of phone calls between the Police and the Prime Minister, Police
and Department of the Prime Minister, or the Police and the Minister of
Police involving or referring to in any way the acid, human waste and
sexual assaults.

 

Please provide any information supporting the Police claim that human
waste was thrown at officers by protesters. How many protesters were
arrested or charged with throwing human waste?

 

The Police publicly stated acid was thrown at officers by protesters. What
evidence is this statement based on? When did the incident occur and exact
time  - this would have been logged in the incident report, Please provide
a copy of the incident report.

What was the exact location of the incident and how many officers were
affected? Were forensic swabs taken of the officers clothing, if not why
not? Immediately after the incident in the minutes that followed, while
the officers were receiving medical attention, did any of the officers
remove their shirts or pants, what was done with the items of clothing
removed? What were the symptoms of the affected officers? What was the
time the officers involved arrived at the hospital/medical clinic seeking
further treatment? How long after the incident and at what location were
swabs taken from the officers of the suspected substance.

 

Assistant Comissioner, Richard Chambers publicly stated that sexual
assaults may have taken place within the Wellington protest camp. Please
provide the number of arrests or people charged with sexual assaults at
the protest camp.

How many formal complaints were made to Police concerning the alleged
sexual assaults? What evidence or claims did Commisioner Chambers base his
statement on?

If this was simply based on being aware of  discussions that occured
within the "lawful protesters" as stated by Chambers, while also stating
he was not aware of anyone that had actually come forward at that point-
What steps if any did Police take to authenticate these discusions were
genuine? Please provide any information showing Police took steps to
engage and discuss the alleged sexual assulats, directly with the lawful
protesters.  If police directly discussed the allegations with the group
concerned, please provide information detailing the discussions and
outcome.

 

Police requires an extension of time in which to respond to your request,
pursuant to section 15A(1)(b) of the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA),
as the consultations necessary to make a decision on the request are such
that a proper response to the request cannot reasonably be made within the
original time limit.

 

Police requires until 15 February 2023 to provide a substantive response
to your request. We are endeavouring to provide this to you as soon as
possible.

You have the right, under section 28(3) of the OIA, to make a complaint to
an Ombudsman about this extension.

If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this
decision, please feel free to contact
[1][email address].

 

 

Ngā mihi

 

Julián (He/Him)

Ministerial Services Advisor
NZ Police National Headqurters Wellington

 

 

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Tēnā koe James

 

I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request
below, received by Police on 9 December 2022.

 

Your reference number is IR-01-22-38395.

 

Please note, as per section 2 of the OIA, the three weeks between 25
December 2022 and 15 January 2023 do not count as working days. You can
expect a response to your request on or before 27 January 2023 unless an
extension is needed.

 

Ngā mihi

Catherine

Ministerial Services

Police National Headquarters

 

 

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Link to this

From: Ministerial Services
New Zealand Police


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Tēnā koe James                           

Please find attached the response to your Official Information Act
request, received by New Zealand Police on 9 December 2022.

 

Please accept our apologies for the delay in providing you with this
response.

 

Ngā mihi

Dylan

 

 

Dylan

Advisor | Ministerial Services | Police National Headquarters

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