Winston Peters’ house attacked: Activist actor Acacia O’Connor doesn’t think protest actions were wrong

The activist actor who livestreamed a pro-Palestine protest outside Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters’ house has spoken out, saying she was “really sorry” to hear about a subsequent attack, but doesn’t think her actions were wrong.

Acacia O’Connor, who was today removed from One NZ commercials after an attack on Peters’ property, was among a crowd of demonstrators who last week protested outside the Auckland house. She livestreamed some of the demonstration online, publicising Peters’ address.

On Monday evening, Peters’ home was vandalised and a crowbar was allegedly used to smash a window, causing glass to fall inside, including on to Peters’ dog. Peters wasn’t there but his partner Jan Trotman and a guest were.

A 29-year-old man has been charged with burglary and is due to appear in court on Friday.

Police said on Tuesday there was a “right to lawful protest” but authorities do not “condone protest action where property is damaged”.

Speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Heather du Plessis-Allan, O’Connor said she doesn’t know who broke the window and they are “not connected at all” to the group of protesters.

Asked if it was wrong to protest outside Peters’ house and share the address, she said: “No, I don’t think so. It is New Zealanders’ legal right to protest.

“I shared the street we were on to come and join us for a peaceful protest.”

She said police were at the protest and it occurred between about 6.30pm and 10pm.

O’Connor was asked whether she could imagine how a protest outside the property might be intimidating to Peters’ partner if she was there alone.

“I really can... this is our last resort,” she said, noting protesters had tried emailing, calling and protesting in public places.

But the activist said the demonstrators were “not being threatening”.

She believed there had been previous protests outside Peters’ house, including after dark, but said the action last week had been “full of love”.

O’Connor couldn’t say this would be the last time a protest would happen outside Peters’ house, but maintained her group was peaceful.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters wasn't at the house when it was vandalised but his partner was. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Earlier on Monday, O’Connor had stood alongside Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick and a number of others at a press conference featuring family members of New Zealanders detained in Israel.

Asked about her association with O’Connor, also a spokeswoman for Global Movement to Gaza, Swarbrick said on Tuesday she was unaware the woman had shared Peters’ personal details online.

“That press stand-up was largely arranged by the community itself. We helped to facilitate things. I had no idea that she would be there until we turned up in the morning.”

One NZ head of sustainability Nicky Preston said the company didn’t support any activity that put people’s safety at risk.

“What’s happened doesn’t line up with our values, so we’re taking the character out of our advertising.”

O’Connor said One NZ were “choosing profit over people”.

Swarbrick was among politicians condemning the attack on Peters’ home. She rejected allegations her party’s criticism of the Government’s position on the Gaza conflict had incited such an action.

“This crosses a threshold and goes well beyond people’s right to protest.”

Jamie Ensor is a senior political reporter in the NZ Herald press gallery team based at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub press gallery office. He was a finalist this year for Political Journalist of the Year at the Voyager Media Awards.