Police have arrested 11 protesters who caused traffic chaos after blocking part of the Auckland Harbour Bridge today.
Watch a media stand-up with Superintendent Naila Hassan on the protest today here:
Today's protest action in central Auckland included a vehicle procession from Onewa Domain across the bridge.
Charges include driving related charges, assault of a police officer, obstruction and resisting arrest.
Police had received information that the group were planning to march over the harbour bridge in the days leading up to the incident.
Superintendent Naila Hassan said police had been in contact with the group in an attempt to deter them from illegally disrupting traffic.
"As a result of us advising them of the serious safety concerns and the risk that they posed to themselves as well as other roadusers, they agreed to drive their vehicles over the bridge, we made an agreement with this group that they would travel at a set speed that would not cause undue risk to themselves and other roadusers," Hassan said.
However, once crossing the harbour bridge the procession broke this agreement and began to slow their vehicles, eventually coming to a complete stop.
Hassan said a number of people involved in the procession then exited their vehicles on the bridge.
"The behaviour that these people demonstrated today was incredibly selfish and it was simply stupid behaviour, we had advised them of the risks they posed to themselves and other roadusers and they absolutely took no notice of that," Hassan said.
She said the harbour bridge was a highly dangerous area for people to be exiting their vehicles, with winds reaching 60kmph this afternoon.
Charges laid today include obstructing police, resisting arrest, assaulting police and driving-related charges.
"We are also now in an investigative phase where we will identify any further unlawful behaviour and will hold those involved to account.," said Hassan.
"We will not tolerate such dangerous behaviour."
Police were unsure whether further protest action had been planned by the group.
The disruption comes after the bridge was closed periodically yesterday due to high winds, causing traffic snarl ups.
One motorist travelling north said he felt sorry for the backed up traffic.
In a post to Twitter, Waka Kotahi said the Northern Motorway had been fully cleared at 1.20pm with traffic delays having eased by 2pm.