Hundreds of tractors, 4WDs, utes and other vehicles are descending on Auckland's CBD and other town centres today - part of the nationwide Groundswell protest. Video / NZ Herald
Hawke's Bay Groundswell organisers don't think there's any danger of their protest being hijacked by fringe anti-vaxxer groups this weekend.
Hastings Groundswell co-ordinator Chris Miles said he has talked with the police about the possibility of fringe elements attaching themselves to the protest on Sunday.
"I'm not worried about it.As far as I am concerned, if they turn up, we will ignore them," Miles said.
Napier Groundswell co-ordinator Ben Simmons says Groundswell organisers have done all they can to make sure the protests stay on message, but people couldn't be stopped from joining.
On Thursday Napier MP Stuart Nash told Parliament he thought Groundswell was full of "racists" and "anti-vaxxers", which both protest organisers refuted.
Hawke's Bay ute owners protest organiser Chris Miles at home on his Havelock North lifestyle block with dogs Bella (left) and Matti. Photo / NZME
"That was out of left field, I couldn't believe it. That was just unbelievable," Miles said. "Especially considering he's 100 per cent wrong and I know that because I am involved with the process."
He thinks Nash is trying to give people who don't know much about Groundswell the impression that they are angry at the Government because of the vaccine mandates.
Simmons said the Wairarapa Groundswell co-ordinators who decided to call off their protest due to concern about fringe elements were erring on the side of caution.
"We've taken precautions and Groundswell have reaffirmed the accepted message to make sure that people who want to know what the protest is about can go back and see this is what we represent."
Simmons said those who wish to take part in the Napier are being directed to make their own way to Hastings St near Marine Parade at 1pm.
The Hastings event has the same route planned as the last Groundswell protest, beginning at Railway Rd adjacent to the Hastings Racecourse and ending around St Aubyn Street West.
The aim is to protest eight government regulations the organisers call "unworkable", which affect farmers, growers and the rural communities.
Among these is the Three Waters Reform and the Clean Car Package, which Miles said will draw in urban protesters as well as rural.
"We're getting more urban people involved now, because Groundswell's issues now extend to the ute tax, which affects tradespeople, not just farmers, and the Three Waters reform is everybody."
Miles said that with the increasing interest in the movement, the numbers at the Hastings "The Mother Of All Protests" this weekend could be up to twice as many as the last protest, which had more than 1000 people in Hastings.
Simmons thinks the Napier event will have fewer than the Hastings one, but still hopes for a decent showing.
