Mother of All Protests (New Zealand)

100 vehicles including several utes and seven tractors drove through the Auckland CBD. In addition, 30–40 protesters gathered on Queen Street and outside the Britomart Transport Centre. Several anti-vaccination protesters also gathered nearby.[21]

The New Plymouth protest was coordinated by Kevin Moratti. 1,500 trucks, tractors, and utes drove laps around New Plymouth's CBD. While most placards criticised the Government's rural regulations and Three Waters programme, the Taranaki Daily News reported that some Trump and QAnon flags were being flown as well.[22]

In addition, another Groundswell protest was held in Hāwera in South Taranaki. Barbara Kuriger, the Member of Parliament for the Taranaki-King Country and the National Party's agricultural spokesperson, attended the Groundswell protests. While sympathetic to the protesters, she expressed concern about anti-vaccination protesters hijacking the movement.[22]

On 18 November, Wairarapa organisers including Masterton farmer Derek Daniell cancelled the Wairarapa protest due to concerns that the event could be hijacked by anti-vaccination elements opposed to the government's COVID-19 lockdown and vaccination policies. Similar concerns were also expressed by Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard and King Country News Heather Carston, who emphasised that Groundswell was focusing on farming issues and expressed concerns about anti-vaccination groups diluting Groundswell's message.[16][19]

About 80 vehicles gathered at the Whanganui racecourse to oppose the Government's farming regulations.[21]

The Wellington protest was organised by Hutt Valley coordinator Craig Innes. The Groundswell convoy drove from Petone to Wellington, with participants driving in laps around the New Zealand Parliament. Counter-demonstrators from environmentalist groups Extinction Rebellion and Generation Zero gathered nearby. Police monitored the protest and counter-protest, which remained peaceful. Some participants carried signs attacking Prime Minister Ardern.[23]

Protests were held in Richmond, Nelson, Motueka, and Tākaka. A convoy of vehicles gathered in Richmond before 1pm before traveling to the Nelson CBD. They also donated food at the local Salvation Army before returning to Richmond.[24]

In the Canterbury region, the Christchurch protest was organised by Aaron Stark. 300 vehicles drove from Rolleston to Christchurch. The convoy was escorted by Police. The Christchurch protest was also attended by ACT party leader David Seymour, who affirmed the party's support for rural New Zealand against alleged "counterproductive red tape on farmers." In addition, a protest was held in Ashburton.[21]

In South Canterbury, protests were held in Timaru, Fairlie, Temuka, Geraldine and Waimate. 300 vehicles including utes and tractors drove through Timaru. The Timaru protest was led by co-organisers Stewart Hydes and Roger Small, the former of whom praised the turnout and criticised the Government's Three Waters reform programme. The Timaru event was also attended by Timaru District Mayor Nigel Bowen, who stated that the public were dissatisfied with the Government's lack of consultation on Three Waters.[25][26] Some protesters sported signs likening the Government's policies to Apartheid and Communism. Small described these unapproved signs as unhelpful and stated that these protesters were not part of the Groundswell movement.[26]

The Mosgiel-Dunedin protests was organised by Lucy Thomson. A convoy of tractors, utes, and farm vehicles drove from Mosgiel to Dunedin's The Octagon, driving laps and honking their horns. Loudspeakers were used to play a radio statement by Groundswell's national organisers for participants and members of the public in the Octagon.[25]

In Oamaru, hundreds of tractors, utes, cars, sprayers and old fire trucks drove through the town centre to protest the Government's so-called "unworkable regulations" and the Three Waters reform programme.[25]

In Queenstown, 70 cars and four tractors drove into the town centre. Queenstown organiser Grant McMaster claimed that farmers were unhappy with the Government's freshwater, indigenous biodiversity, natural areas regulations, Three Waters reforms, and lack of priority for seasonal workers.[25]

According to Groundswell leader Laurie Paterson, 300 people had registered for the Gore protest but he estimated there were at least a thousand participants. The Groundswell convoy drove through the town centre, sporting protest signs against the Governments' Three Water reforms and methane regulations. The convoy attracted many local observers and supporters. Police were present to ensure the protest was peaceful.[25] Paterson described the Gore protest as a success, citing the small number of offensive and racist signage. A separate group of anti-vaccination protesters also demonstrated nearby.[27]

The Invercargill protest was organised by Bruce Robertson, who noted the presence of both rural and urban supporters whom he claimed were dissatisfied with the Government's Three Waters reforms, Clean Car Package, and "water tax." Utes, tractors, and a stream engine drove through the city centre.[25] Several participants also highlighted mental health issues facing farmers as well was grievances with Government policies including the Significant Natural Areas, Three Waters, and winter grazing. 90 supporters also gathered in the Invercargill Cenotaph.[27]

In mid November 2021, the Wellington chapter of environmentalist group Extinction Rebellion announced that they would disrupt the "Mother of All Protests" event in Wellington by blocking the group's tractors and vehicles in Lambton Quay. Spokesperson Te Wehi Ratana claimed that Groundswell was undermining efforts to combat climate change and to protect the planet. Activist Sue Boyd alleged that Groundswell NZ promoted racism, misogyny, and vaccine hesitancy, citing the presence of offensive placards in the previous Howl of a Protest campaign in July 2021. In response, Groundswell's Wellington organiser Tim Hawley rejected claims that the group was racist or promoted climate denial. He emphasised that the farming sector was seeking to address its environmental impact and suggested that critics watch the TVNZ series Country Calendar to understand the farming sector.[28]

Tokoroa dairy farmer Arianna Ashworth opined that the "Mother of All Protests" came at a "bad time" since Groundswell's message risk being muddled by anti-vaccination and anti-government elements. While Ashworth supported Groundswell's efforts to lobby the Government about policies adversely affecting the primary industry, she stated that Groundswell needed to address recent events such as racist signs at the Howl of a Protest campaign and former Hamilton organiser Ross Townshend's racist social media post about Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta.[20]