Protester on damage charge

Police have arrested Extinction Rebellion protesters who glued themselves to Parliament’s top step and another protester has been charged with wilful damage.

Wellington officers issued members of the group with trespass notices yesterday. About 2pm, the protesters were seen unsticking their hands from the steps using nail polish remover, under the supervision of paramedics, before police removed them from Parliament grounds.

A police spokeswoman said three people had been arrested for allegedly refusing to leave Parliament after being trespassed. They were to take part in a restorative justice process. Another person, a 41-year-old man, was arrested in relation to an incident which allegedly occurred during a protest on Bowen St, central Wellington. A police spokeswoman said the man had been charged with wilful damage and would appear in the Wellington District Court next Monday.

Rachael Andrews was one of three protesters glued to the steps since 5pm on Tuesday. ‘‘I have three baby grandchildren and I want them to have a healthy, long future on a beautiful thriving planet but what they’re facing is a life of [environmental] chaos, and so I am prepared to go to jail for my grandchildren.’’

The incident came on a third day of protests from the group which began on Labour Day. On Tuesday protesters occupied Te Aro Park then made their way to Parliament to present a letter to the prime minister.

Yesterday, 20 protesters dressed as cows danced to Staying Alive in an act of ‘‘Dis-cow-bediance’’ at the Wellington railway station.

Extinction Rebellion spokesperson Jen Olsen said the protest was to highlight the multiple climate concerns related to the country’s reliance on intensive dairy farming.