About 20 protesters had set up camp at Mt Messenger in September. About a dozen protesters were back on the northern side of the summit, earlier this week. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Protesters opposed to the Mt Messenger bypass on State Highway 3 have now been moved off the site by police.
About a dozen protesters had set up camp alongside a layby on the northern side of the summit earlier this week.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said the protesters were trespassing and had asked police to remove them.
Debbie Pascoe whose Mangapēpeke Valley farm lies in the path of the project said the group were protesting against permits granted to Waka Kotahi by the Department of Conservation to remove or kill 46 native species from the area of the project, including endangered kiwi and archy's frog.
Pascoe said police moved in shortly after midday to remove the protesters.
In a statement, police said no arrests were made as they took action to enforce the trespass notice issued by Waka Kotahi.
Two people were arrested when a similar protest was broken up in September.