Thousands protest outside New Zealand's parliament

STORY: Organised by the Freedom and Rights Coalition, the demonstrators were protesting over tighter environmental regulations for farmers, a government bid to take over regionally owned water assets and now largely removed COVID-19 restrictions.

About 250 counter-protesters also gathered in a bid to counter hate, homophobia, bigotry and disinformation

from the far right, organisers of the counter-protest said in a Facebook post.

Police in March ended an anti-vaccine protest that had disrupted the capital for three weeks, dismantling an encampment in the same location, towing away vehicles and arresting dozens.