Covid-19 Delta outbreak: Hīkoi of Truth protesters arrive at Waitangi Treaty Grounds en masse

Members of this morning's hīkoi have reached their destination with a large crowd - beyond what local police were expecting - having convened peacefully at Waitangi.

Around 500 people have gathered for a powhiri at Te Tii o Waitangi Marae in the name of "freedom".

However, it's unclear whether everyone present is part of the Sovereign Hīkoi of Truth (Shot) movement.

The crowd gathered at Ti Tiriti o Waitangi Marae at midday on Wednesday. Photo / Michael Cunningham

The crowd was gathered in the sunshine as waiata and speeches delivered in te reo pealed across the significant location.

More than 250 vehicles set off from Whangārei's Kensington Park at 9.30am today to throw their weight behind the hīkoi's stand against Government mandates.

However, protesters from the south were foiled at Auckland's borders by police.

Around 12 people were prevented from crossing into Tai Tokerau at the Te Hana checkpoint on State Highway 1 this morning.

It's understood more than 50 members of an anti-lockdown hīkoi were prevented from entering Northland at Auckland's most northern checkpoints. Photo / Michael Cunningham

They were set to join more than 50 protesters waiting on the northern side of the same checkpoint.

Police supported by iwi liaison officers and partners from Ngāti Whātua engaged with the group, most of whom eventually dispersed without issue.

The Advocate understands a small number remain in Te Hana.

Further south, a convoy of 50 vehicles and about 100 people from Rotorua gathered at the Mercer checkpoint south of Auckland at 11.45pm yesterday.

Police directed the group to a gravel area on Orams Rd to prevent them from disrupting traffic trying to pass through the busy border checkpoint.

A police spokesman said most complied except for the drivers of two protest vehicles – including a bus – who parked on SH1 and refused to move.

Overnight traffic was diverted around the vehicles and police were engaging with the owners in a bid to move them off the road.

At 2.30am, some protesters surged forward on foot from Orams Rd – blocking the southern lane of SH1.

They refused to cooperate with requests from authorities to clear the road and a police line was needed to move them off the highway.

The protesters remain parked on the side of the road near the southern checkpoints with police monitoring the situation.

Police said they were "incredibly disappointed" the members of the hīkoi had chosen to take these actions.

"By carrying out non-essential travel they are putting themselves, our staff and the wider community at risk, while additional police resources have had to be redeployed to monitor the movements of this group at the checkpoints."

A participant in Northland's leg of the hīkoi was blown away that hundreds of people of all ages and backgrounds had gathered in Kensington Park in support.

He rejected the claims they were anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists, saying he had loads of friends who were vaccinated.

For him, Wednesday's hīkoi wasn't about the vaccination divide – it was about manaakitanga: extending love and support to others.

He wanted people to be able to have a choice rather than face mandates handed down by the country's "rulers" – "they're not leaders, there's a difference", he said.

In the 15 minutes the Advocate stood speaking to the man, a large number of passing traffic tooted their support as vehicles left the park headed for Kawakawa - where more people were expected to join the convoy.

The group came under heavy criticism yesterday from Tai Tokerau Border Control founder Hone Harawira, who described them as ''Pākehā anti-vaxxers'' trying to take over He Whakaputanga commemorations.

''There is no invitation from Waitangi Marae, no invitation from the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, no invitation from Ngāti Kawa or Ngāti Rahiri, and no invitation from Ngāpuhi,'' he said.

The hīkoi is timed to coincide with the annual He Whakaputanga commemorations, which in normal years draw large numbers of people to the campground next to Te Tii Marae.

He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni (Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand) was signed in Waitangi on October 28, 1835, by 34 northern chiefs.