Christopher Luxon says NZTA should ‘think deeply’ about closing Auckland Harbour Bridge for protests

Strong winds stopped Palestine supporters from marching across the Auckland Harbour Bridge on Saturday. Composite Image / Brett Phibbs, Alex Burton

The Prime Minister says the country’s roading agency should “think deeply” about closing the Auckland Harbour Bridge for protesters.

Some 20,000 protesters marched through Auckland’s CBD to stand in solidarity with Palestine and calling on the Government to impose sanctions on Israel.

Original plans to cross the harbour bridge were scrapped because of forecast 70km/h gusts and the danger it posed to pedestrians. The southbound lanes were to be closed for the morning ahead of the protest.

Palestine supporters march through Auckland.

Today, Christopher Luxon told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that NZTA should think carefully about closing busy routes such as the bridge, saying it was a “huge inconvenience” to people.

”There’s enough other places that people can protest,“ Luxon said.

“We want people to be able to feel free to do so - we want that in our society - but on this particular issue there’s deep-seated feelings on all sides.”

Luxon said while it was not on the agenda for today’s Cabinet meeting, Foreign Minister Winston Peters was likely to make an announcement on Palestine in the coming weeks.

“It’s a pretty complex issue; it’s important that we form our own view on it,” Luxon said.

”There’s a range of views about whether, you know, if recognition is appropriate or not appropriate.

”We’ve always said when not if - but we will make our own decision."

Yesterday Luxon announced a $70 million injection to lure major events to New Zealand.

The Government’s third-quarter action plan promised a major events fund.

The $70m injection comprises $40m to attract “large-scale international events from 2026” and a $10m “Events Boost Fund” to support existing events and attract international opportunities.

There is also a $10m regional tourism campaign to attract more international visitors and a $10m fund to upgrade tourism infrastructure, including cycle trails.

This fund will be paid for by taxpayers and is currently a one-off.

Luxon told Hosking the Government had benchmarked New Zealand against Queensland in terms of hosting major events.

“Brisbane’s a similar size city to Auckland, and we know that we want to be competitive,” Luxon said.

“There’s a lot of madness going on across some of the constraints that the venues are actually having to work to - if we can get rid of some of that stuff and make it easier for things to happen, that would be a good thing.”

The Government has come under pressure from Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown to allow Auckland to bring in a bed night levy on visitors, which would raise funds to pay for attracting major events.

But tourism isn’t the only thing Luxon has welcomed to New Zealand.

Earlier this month, Luxon visited Tauranga’s Mainfreight branch following Ikea’s recently announced distribution partnership with Mainfreight and NZ Post.

Ikea’s first New Zealand store, located at Sylvia Park, will open on December 4.

Through the partnership, the Scandinavian furniture will be available for delivery to New Zealanders’ doorsteps and for pick-up at 29 Mainfreight-operated points.

After a tour of the Tauranga facility, Luxon told media the competition Ikea brought to the local retail landscape would be a good thing.

Last week, Luxon also issued a statement saying he had asked Dame Cindy Kiro to remain in office beyond October 21 next year, when her term was scheduled to conclude.

Kiro will remain in office as Governor-General for an additional five months to avoid “timing issues” related to next year’s election.