The 200 or so people who marched through Rotorua's streets on Saturday protesting against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement certainly succeeded in making their voices heard.
The rally was part of a nationwide day of protest against the controversial trade agreement, with similar marches happening around the country.
With chants including"TPPA taking people's power away" and "Kiwi rights are under attack, stand up, fight back" and waving placards, protesters gave Rotorua shoppers no choice but to stop, move out of the way and look and listen.
Regardless of which side of the TPPA fence you sit on, that's got to be a good thing, because many New Zealanders don't sit on any side of that fence, due to having little or no understanding of what the TPPA is, what it's about or how it might affect them.
Whether that's because the Government is intentionally being secretive, as one protester claimed, or just because it all seems too complicated for the average Kiwi - who knows?
I suspect the latter, judging by the bemused looks on the faces of many the Rotorua protest passed by.
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There was a different kind of people power at the Village Green yesterday, with 600 people getting colour-bombed in the name of charity.
Rotorua's first Colour Dash was a roaring success for all involved, and raised almost $8000 for a great cause. Rotorua people have always been great at supporting others who need help.
