The Sovereign Hikoi Of Truth protesters block the southbound route at Mercer. Video / Supplied
Protesters have surged onto southbound lanes of Auckland's regional Covid-19 protection border leaving southbound lanes at the Mercer checkpoint blocked.
Police have this afternoon verbally trespassed a group of protesters at the southern Auckland checkpoint, who are currently occupying land owned by Waka Kotahi.
The main road out of Aucklandis temporarily closed with traffic being diverted along SH2.
Protesters at Mercer, at Auckland's southern border. Photo / Supplied
Police say they are engaging with the protestors and encouraging them to leave the site. Those who refuse to leave the area this afternoon will likely be arrested for trespass. However, some protesters have left the site with fears of being arrested.
It is understood those still at Mercer have been allowed relocated to private land next to the motorway.
Earlier this afternoon two people were arrested after they were caught attempting to cross the border at Mercer on foot on train tracks.
Two men will be summonsed to appear in court in relation to breaching the Health Order.
SH1 MERCER, SOUTHBOUND — 3:15PM Due to an incident, southbound lanes at the #SH1 Mercer Checkpoint are temporarily closed. Follow directions of crew on-site. Southbound traffic traveling for essential/permitted purposes should detour via the #SH2 Mangatawhiri checkpoint. ^MF pic.twitter.com/DnTRu5fIVf
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) October 28, 2021
Police say this is an unfolding situation and a further update will only be available later today once the situation is resolved.
Vehicles heading out of the region are parked up for kilometres as a result of the protest action.
Protesters at Mercer, at Auckland's southern border. Photo / Supplied
The two day old standoff at Mercer is continuing with up to 100 people spending last night in a paddock off State Highway 1.
Police had remained guard for the past 40 hours, forming lines to prevent any passage of the protesters onto the busy highway.
Thwarted by police to cross the higher alert level boundary late Tuesday night, the group has continued to unsuccessfully negotiate passage through Auckland to reach Waitangi where they were headed.
This morning protesters claimed food had been smuggled to the group by people accessing the nearby main truck line after it was claimed others with supplies had been earlier turned away by police.
The group also claimed trucks carrying portaloos have been turned back, forcing those on site to dig a temporary long drop.
Protesters were forced to spend the night in farmland off State Highway 1 at Mercer after police erected a blockade to stop them passing through the alert level 3 region. Photo / Mike Scott
Meanwhile a group from Auckland was turned back by police after unsuccessfully trying to reach a bridge that overlooked the Mercer protesters where they intended to do a karakia for them.
Yesterday police described the actions of the protesters as "incredibly disappointing" after a bus and car were parked on the northbound highway lanes with their drivers refusing to budge.
Delays at Mercer. Photo / Google Maps
In the early hours a group surged onto the southern lane from Orams Rd, with a police line needed to force them off the road.
Police say the actions of the group were putting their staff and the wider community at risk.
Hīkoi protesters in a standoff with police officers at Mercer, on Auckland's southern boundary. Photo / Mike Scott
They said it had also mean additional officers had needed to be redeployed in order to monitor the movements of the groups at the checkpoints.
They were considering possible enforcement action after occupants of the bus did not have evidence of permitted travel and refused to shift the vehicle for more than half a day.
