Arrangements for bridge crossing

Police from the North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney and Auckland City Districts will assist the Foreshore and Seabed Hikoi through both districts and across the Auckland Harbour Bridge tomorrow in the interests of participants’ and public safety and convenience.

Police planners and senior management met with Hikoi organisers this morning and settled on timetable, route and convoy arrangements in the Auckland City confines.

The protestors will assemble at Stafford Park, Northcote Point, by 10.30am in readiness for an 11am departure to walk across the bridge. The two most western lanes of the bridge (northbound) will be closed to traffic – other than support and Police vehicles – from about 10.20am until about 1pm.

The Curran St on-ramp will be closed to traffic for the same period. There may be some minor delays city bound as the lane changes will start at 9.30am instead of 10.30am, which will give four instead of five lanes city-bound, earlier than usual.

Hikoi participants will reassemble at the Curran St end of the Westhaven Marina after crossing the bridge and will drive from there in convoy – under Police escort via the waterfront and Ngapipi St – to Orakei Marae.

Police will not escort their drive from Orakei Marae to Hoani Waititi Marae, Glen Eden, later in the day.

Detective Superintendent Gavin Jones, Acting District Commander for Auckland City Police, said he was pleased that protestors and Police were able to meet and discuss plans and options in advance of the Hikoi entering the district.

"It’s important that all citizens are kept safe during a legal protest and that members of the general public are able to go about their lawful business with the least amount of disruption," Mr Jones said.

"I am confident that Police planning staff and the organisers of the Hikoi are working well together to achieve safe and satisfactory outcomes for the majority of North Shore, Waitakere and Auckland residents."

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