A vocal crowd of up to 100 people gathered outside National list MP Michael Woodhouse's office in central Dunedin today to protest the signing of the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.
Dignitaries from the 12 partnership countries gathered at 11.30am to put pen to paper at SkyCity in Auckland, a major step in what was described as the "biggest trade deal in a generation".
Watch the TPP signing ceremony in Auckland:
The agreement is designed to free up trade and investment between the countries but has been contentious for several years, mainly because of the secrecy of the deal, lack of public consultation and fears New Zealand's sovereignty could be diminished.
TPP Action Dunedin spokeswoman Jen Olsen said the group supported the much bigger protest held in central Auckland.
Ms Olsen was collecting signatures for the group's TPP-free Dunedin petition, which aimed to persuade the Dunedin City Council to make the declaration on behalf of the city.
Protester Victor Billot, of the Maritime Union of New Zealand, said he was surprised at the turnout to the Dunedin protest and the number of young people.
It was important to remember today's signing was symbolic and did not put the deal into effect, he said. The deal would require a number of controversial law changes before it took effect, and faced political opposition in some countries, including the United States.
Protests held nationwide
Protests against the TPP were held throughout the country today, including Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga and Whanganui.
In Auckland, 1000 protesters had gathered outside the SkyCity building by 10.30am, their aim to disrupt proceedings for as long as possible.
Protest group Real Choice said they planned the non-violent protest and a blockade of the streets leading to the convention centre, hoping supporters in their hundreds would create a "TPP-free zone" and shut down the signing ceremony for as long as possible.
Real Choice spokeswoman Julia Espinoza explained their motives. "Petitions, marches and lobbying have their place; but now the TPP is being signed on our doorstep, and we feel it is time to try to shut it down and create a TPP-free zone."
Maraea Clark, dressed in the colours of the New Zealand flag, said the trade deal was a way of controlling people. "It's not a better life for the people; it's a better life for the corporations who are wanting to take over."
A large group soon left the scene to join a blockade on Victoria St, where a young man was singing Bob Marley's Redemption Song.
The protesters had high-profile support - former All Black Piri Weepu tweeted them: "Good luck but also be safe, No need to protest violently. Walk together for Aotearoa."
Kiwis should be proud: PM
Earlier, Prime Minister John Key said New Zealanders should feel immensely proud of being part of the historic deal.
Mr Key said people had opposed the China free trade agreement in 2008 and the closer economic relations (CER) agreement with Australia in the 1980s and opponents of both had been proven totally wrong.
"In the end, for all the bluff and bluster and misinformation, TPP is no more than a free trade agreement with the first and third largest economies in the world," he said, referring to the United States and Japan.
"I think people should feel immensely proud of TPP and actually excited by the opportunity it presents."
Mr Key said the TPP had become a "cause celebre" for the left who would not acknowledge its benefits.
"One of the press releases today was that it was going to have an impact on gay and lesbian, transgender people. Give me a break."
He described the claim by the CTUOut@Work Convener, Karena Brown, that the TPP would stop access to lifesaving drugs for people living with HIV/Aids as "nonsense".
"Insomuch as there is any impact on our capacity to buy new drugs that are invented, particularly biologics, TPP will make New Zealand a wealthier country and assist that."
Unions against deal
The Council of Trade Unions was one of a many sector groups issuing last-minute missives against the TPP, including the nurses organisation and primary teacher union. The Unite Union last night said a vote of its 830 members at SkyCity resulted in 84% rejecting it.
There was a march at lunchtime down Queen St from Aotea Square to Britomart by It's Our Future, which organiser Barry Coates said aimed for a family-friendly atmosphere and was steering clear of SkyCity convention centre.
While four parliamentary parties oppose the TPP, none of their leaders would be protesting today.
Mr Key said there had been a level of protest in all 12 member countries of TPP. "So to a certain degree it comes with the territory." But it was "a bit disappointing" because the silent majority of New Zealanders would support the deal when they got a chance to fully understand it and see it implemented.
Referring to yesterday's unemployment rate of 5.3%, Mr Key said: "Those things don't happen by accident. They occur because of good policy and when, as a small country, we get more middle-income consumers on a level playing field."
- Staff reporter and New Zealand Herald
