Wellington's only emergency ambulance service will no longer attend emergencies within the protest area at Parliament.
Wellington Free Ambulance. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
Ambulances have attended a number of callouts for medical events at Parliament grounds since the protest against some of the government's Covid-19 measures, including vaccine mandates, started 15 days ago.
But in a statement this afternoon, Wellington Free Ambulance said it had to make the difficult decision to abandon entering the area, because of staff safety after an increase in hostilities towards paramedics today and yesterday.
"We will continue to support people requiring urgent medical attention, but this will be at a designated safe space outside the recently established cordon.
"We hope that our community of supporters understand the need to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our paramedics during this time of ongoing unrest in the Capital."
They said they would also respond to people requiring support near the protest zone as per usual.
They also said it was "widely publicised that the protesters have established their own medical support within the cordon area".
Earlier this morning, three officers were taken to hospital after being sprayed with a "stinging substance" yet to be identified.
On Saturday, police said there were at least six medical events within the protest and urged anyone parked unlawfully in the area to remove their vehicle to allow emergency services access.
St John operates in the region but says it does not provide emergency ambulance services in Wairarapa and Wellington.