"NZDIA protest "

Please attribute to Inspector Peter Thurston, Operation Commander

Police have today been responding to protest activity outside the New Zealand Defence Industry Association conference in Palmerston North.

Our role is to ensure safety and uphold the law while recognising the lawful right to protest.

Police were pleased with the behaviour of protestors involved in the march from the Square, however we are disappointed with the behaviour of some outside the venue who acted in a way that created safety issues, disrupted traffic, inconvenienced the wider public and in one instance an officer was spat at.

Ten people were arrested, two for assaulting police and the others for disorder and obstruction.

We ask that those taking part in ongoing protest activity continue to keep the safety of themselves and others in mind.

ENDS

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