When anti-vaccination protesters finally cleared New Zealand’s Parliament grounds after three weeks of occupation, they were left with a scene of desolation and disorder – the remains of a children’s playground, equipment camping equipment and human waste, among other items.
This week, a man eating lunch in Parliament’s garden discovered something else left behind by protesters – cannabis plants nestled among mustard greens and marigolds.
The unidentified man told Radio New Zealandnational television station, that he may not have “breathed” in college, but that he has a “pretty good idea” of what plants are sprouting “just meters away from the debate room.”
The discovery prompted a swift campaign by landkeepers to find, uproot and destroy surreptitiously seeded trees in the gardens of Parliament in Wellington.
Trevor Mallard, speaker of parliament, told New Zealanders in a statement: “We are getting rid of weeds.
The discovery raises questions about other surprises protesters could leave behind as a new anti-vaccination group takes to social media to plan another rally on Friday.
A representative for the estate told national television that “a lot” of cannabis seeds had been scattered around by protesters. Seedlings for cilantro, tomatoes, other vegetables and herbs are also left behind. The man who first found the cannabis plants declared it “a shame,” adding, “The law is the law.”
In New Zealand, possession and production of recreational cannabis remains illegal after 53% of voters voted against legalizing cannabis in a 2020 referendum. voting, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern refused to endorse any party to avoid influencing the outcome. She then revealed that she was vote in favor of legalization.
The protest against the country’s strict vaccine regulations lasted 23 days and drew hundreds of people from across the country. A growing crowd consisting of conspiracy theorists and others have taken to the site to fight various grievances. What begins when a peaceful protest like a music festival ends in dramatic and sometimes bloody clashes with the police. Fire broke out. Protesters held fire extinguishers, paintballs and other homemade weapons. Dozens of officers were injured.
Weeks later, relations between the New Zealand government and opponents of the vaccination ban remained strained.
Last Wednesday, Ms. Ardern announced that the country would be moving away from vaccine requirements and waive other Covid restrictions, including ending the sale of vaccines in stores and other locations. , even if the Omicron variant caused widespread epidemics.
But some groups are pushing to end those restrictions altogether. A new anti-vaccination group announced plans to protest in Wellington on Friday, prompting workers to erect fences around Parliament and police officers to turn.
In the end, only a handful of people showed up to protest at a war memorial near Parliament. Rain has begun to fall – ideal for the seedlings but apparently not for the protesters.
