Loud and long

Photos by Stephen Jaquiery & Gerard O'Brien.
Photos by Stephen Jaquiery & Gerard O'Brien.
Photos by Stephen Jaquiery & Gerard O'Brien.
Photos by Stephen Jaquiery & Gerard O'Brien.

Protesters face police officers outside the Dunedin Club yesterday as they voice their opinion on the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement.

The 20-strong group was protesting outside a Dunedin information session, one of three scheduled nationwide TPP roadshow tours, which highlighted key outcomes of the agreement.

The protest, which lasted about two hours and involved pushing and shoving between police and protesters, ended peacefully.

No arrests were made.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade deputy secretary of trade and economics spokesman David Walker attended the session.

Protest organiser Jen Wilson said the group had come together to ''make their voices heard'' against the agreement, which she described as ''really bad for New Zealand''.

The protest was loud and there was no let-up for about two hours.

Trade Minister Tim Groser said in a statement the TPP offered comprehensive agreement and much better access for New Zealand goods and services.

''TPP breaks new ground for us. It is our first [free-trade agreement] relationship with the United States - the world's biggest consumer market - as well as with Japan, Canada, Mexico and Peru.

''Not being in TPP ... would put New Zealand at a competitive disadvantage compared to other countries.''

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