A grassroots movement is making its presence felt on Auckland's roads and waterways, with the One Ocean Protest convoy heading south from Albany toward Mission Bay and its Stanley Street endpoint.
The group, known as OOP, formed in early November in direct response to last-minute rule changes that opened up commercial fishing inside newly designated High Protection Areas (HPAs) in the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana. Community frustration has translated into a rolling demonstration now causing significant congestion across the convoy route.
By 9:45am, the last vehicles were still clearing the Albany carpark while the front of the convoy had already crossed the Harbour Bridge. Early arrivals had pushed through Mission Bay ahead of the main procession, with the lead vehicles beginning to reach Mission Bay as the tail end was still getting underway. More than 250 cars, boat trailers, and support vehicles joined the southbound procession.
Dotted along the route are support vehicles and boats just off Tamaki Drive accompanying the road-based protest.
Below the Auckland Harbour Bridge, between twenty and thirty protest vessels have gathered, waiting on the water as the convoy passes overhead.
The bridge itself has been significantly affected, with the two left lanes merging into the far left lane and traffic slowing to a crawl. By 11:00am, Tamaki Drive and Mission Bay were becoming congested as protesters continued to arrive.
