Climate change protesters escape arrest

NZPA

Climate Change activists protest outside the Stock Exchange in Wellington.

Two climate change protesters who suspended themselves from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's headquarters in Wellington today have been banned from going near the property for two years.

In a similar protest today, nine people were arrested outside the New Zealand Stock Exchange building, also in Wellington.

All the protesters were released without being charged.

The two activists who scaled the outside of MFAT's Lambton Quay headquarters about 7.30am, unfurled a banner bearing the slogan "Got Climate Change?" and a "Fonterror" logo.

The men targeted MFAT because it promoted dairy giant Fonterra's activities overseas, they said.

They came down about 11.45am, met by police who asked them a number of questions, then trespassed them from the building – inside and out – for two years.

One of the climbers, John Darroch, said their protest action caused many Christmas shoppers to stop, look and, perhaps, think.

"I think it drew attention to the role dairy farming plays in climate change. Hopefully, it will inspire other people to take action," he said.

In the other protest, police arrested nine people for blocking the entrance to the NZX building on Wellington's waterfront.

They were all released without charge shortly after, police spokeswoman Elizabeth Young said.

About 30 to 40 people took part in the noisy, colourful protest, in an attempt to disrupt "the root causes of climate change".

The protests came on the last day of a week-long camping conference on climate change, held in the Hutt Valley.

Mr Darroch said all of the actions had been discussed, supported and decided upon by consensus.

"It was a really positive experience, to see alternative systems of reaching decisions work so effectively," he said.

The activists were heading back out to their campsite for a big party to celebrate the day's action and conclude the week of workshops, networking and discussion, he said.

- NZPA