A protest outside New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ Auckland home on Thursday evening has drawn sharp criticism from the politician, who described the demonstration as “disgraceful and blatant harassment.”
It is reported in local media that the protest, held in support of the Global Sumud Flotilla, was organised via social media, with one post sharing a partial address of Peters’ home. It involved around 30 people chanting, banging drums, waving Palestinian flags, and holding posters.
Messages in chalk, including the names of New Zealanders participating in the flotilla, were also written on the footpath outside Peters’ home.
Peters took to social media site X to defend the right to peaceful protest while condemning harassment.
“Protesting outside a politician’s home at night is not a protest, it is just disgraceful and blatant harassment.”
It is further reported that police and Auckland Council noise control officers attended the scene. Noise levels exceeded acceptable limits on two occasions, but protesters complied with requests to lower the volume before dispersing around 10pm.
Peters added that politicians, like all New Zealanders, have families and children who deserve to feel safe at home.
“New Zealanders’ homes are supposed to be a place where we all can be and feel safe and secure. No one has the right to take that away.”
Highlighting the balance between democratic rights and responsibility, he said: “We have one of the most open, accessible, and tolerant democracies in the world. People have every right to protest and express their views – but with that comes the responsibility to be a decent person and respect the places and times when you can exercise those rights.”
“Get your megaphones and signs and protest outside of parliament. If you think it’s ok to harass families outside of their own homes you have just lost your moral high ground.”
As per local media the Kiwi Government is planning to outlaw protesting outside homes and demonstrators can be jailed for up to three months or fined $2000.
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