Peace activists plan return to munitions company

As a Pro-Palestinian protest, Joseph Bray and Jackson Duguid climbed onto the roof of an international weapons manufacturing company in Rolleston.

The action was carried out as protest at the privately-owned global munitions company NIOA, originally established in Queensland, Australia. The company moved its headquarters from Auckland to Rolleston in October of 2024.

NIOA New Zealand General Manager Fraser Winskill explained the move to Christchurch was of 'strategic importance' to better serve the entire New Zealand sporting, law enforcement and military markets. 

In 2023, as part of a global reach expansion, NIOA acquired a US-owned rifle design and manufacturing company, Barrett Firearms. The company has ties with the US military, law enforcement and civilian market, and their rifles are reportedly favoured by the special forces of the Israel Defence Force. 

The protestors claimed NIOA’s involvement with the US firearm industry proved complicity with Israel's attacks on Gaza. 

Bray and Duguid broadcast the entire protest on the 'peace.action.otauthi' Instagram page, calling for supporters to join them at the Rolleston headquarters as they chained themselves to the roof of the building.  

Police arrested them after a 10+ hour occupation. Both protestors were charged with burglary as reported on their Instagram page, meaning they could face upwards of 10 years' imprisonment.  

On March 7 they were granted bail on several conditions, which included not interacting with other peace activists.  

They were taken into police custody again on April 2, following an alleged bail breach while attending a police abolition talking panel at the University of Canterbury on March 19.  

They were released from custody the following day and claimed their arrest was proof of 'police activism suppression and oversurveillance'. 

However a police spokesperson told Metronews their claim was factually incorrect, and their arrest was due to non-compliance to court-ordered conditions, which would be the same for any person who breaches their bail conditions.