Green MP Chloe Swarbrick shows support at arms industry forum blockade

Tuesday, 10 October 2017

Green MP Chloe Swarbrick turns out to support 'weapons expo' protests in Wellington.

Green MP Chloe Swarbrick and Nobel peace prize winner Thomas Nash have shown up in support of an arms industry forum blockade at Wellington's Westpac Stadium.

Swarbrick said she wanted to show her support but was only able to be at the protest for an hour on Tuesday morning.

About 300 protesters were trying to stop a so-called weapons expo which prompted a large police presence who were scattered around the stadium's various entrances.

But despite the various blockades, some attendees managed to get into the stadium.

Swarbrick told 1News it was important New Zealanders' continued to hold protests and stand up for their beliefs, in order to create change.

She said the arms forum protest was about making sure the country had 'uncomfortable conversations' about people's stances against armament – particularly nuclear.

'I think it's really important for us as New Zealanders to re-evaluate what we stand for.

Police remove one of many protesters at Westpac Stadium. Five people were arrested.

'A lot of people say we're clean and we're green, or a we're peaceful nation … in 2017 a lot of those things don't necessarily stand true. It's crucial that we do do things like protests and we do stand up.

'Otherwise nothing is ever going to change.'

Protesters blocked entrances to Westpac Stadium where an arms forum was being held.

Police drag away a protester at the defence forum at Westpac Stadium.

Last month, and after pressure from activists, Wellington Mayor Justin Lester agreed the controversial arms industry forum should not return to any Wellington City Council sites.

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