Second protest held at munitions company

Apr 7, 2025, 8:08 PM Social issues

As promised, peace activists made their comeback to munitions company NIOA Rolleston at 10am on April 7.

This was Peace Action Ōtautahi’s (PAO) second appearance at NIAO Rolleston this year.

In early March, protesters Joseph Bray and Jackson Duguid were arrested for scaling and chaining themselves to the roof of NIOA and were arrested again in early April for breaching their bail conditions.

On the group’s Instagram account, they promised to return. The pair were not present at today's protest.

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Today saw a turnout of a few dozen, with three police cars monitoring the protest.

A safety briefing was exchanged between the activists and the police present with little dispute.

NIOA-Protesters-7-4 — *Protesters standing outside NIOA Rolleston with signs* *Aleksandra Bogdanova / NZBS*

PAO had accused police of 'activism suppression and oversurveillance' following Bray and Guguid’s previous arrests, however a police spokesperson told Metronews the group's claim was factually incorrect, and that police were following procedures they would carry out against any citizen.

This afternoon activist Aurora Garner-Randolph doubled down on the group's claims, saying the non-association order imposed as part of Bray and Guguid’s bail was an infringement of their 'legitimate, democratic positions'.

Police were approached for a response but declined a further interview.

POA say they plan to continue their efforts against NIOA.