Ahead of New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speech on Wednesday, the "convoy for freedom" protesters arrived from all corners of New Zealand and gathered outside the parliament building in the capital Wellington.

The protesters were largely unmasked and vowed to camp outside parliament until the COVID-19 curbs are lifted. These protests are inspired by the ongoing truckers blockade in the Canadian capital Ottawa against strict government measures to fight the pandemic.

A heavy police line was deployed in front of the parliament building to stop protesters from entering. According to local authorities, least three arrests were made as protesters tried to break through the barriers.

During a press conference, Ardern said, "I think it would be wrong to in any way characterise what we've seen outside as a representation of the majority.”

She said, "The majority of New Zealanders have done everything they can to keep one another safe."

Ardern's government for last two years has enforced some of the toughest pandemic restrictions to keep the coronavirus out from the country. These policies helped keep infections and deaths low. A country of five million people, New Zealand has had about 18,000 confirmed COVID cases so far and 53 deaths.

However, due to these policies, it also angered many who faced endless home isolation, and tens of thousands of expatriate New Zealanders who were cut off from families back home as the borders remained sealed. The measures have also been devastating for businesses dependent on international tourists.

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