Yahoo TV

The "convoy for freedom" protesters arrived from all corners of New Zealand and gathered outside the parliament building in the capital Wellington, called the Beehive, ahead of the first speech for the year by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

The protesters were largely unmasked, held placards calling for "freedom" and vowed to camp outside parliament until the COVID-19 curbs are lifted. The protests, which may run for days, are inspired by the ongoing truckers blockade in the Canadian capital Ottawa against strict government measures to fight the pandemic.

A heavy police line was deployed in front of the parliament building to stop protesters from entering. At least three arrests were made as protesters tried to break through, according to local authorities.