Police reject claims of brutality against climate protesters

Climate action demonstrators clashed with police and security guards in several fiery conflicts outside a mining conference in Dunedin yesterday.

Three people were arrested, one protester was taken to hospital and a woman glued her hands to the doors of the Dunedin Town Hall during the raucous day, when about 150 demonstrators made clear their opposition to the coal industry and its effect on climate change.

Demonstrators were often successful in preventing delegates entering the Minerals Forum, focused on mining in New Zealand, and attended by representatives of coal companies.

Dozens of delegates made their way into the forum about 6am, before protesters arrived in force, linked arms to block entrances and confronted attendees.

Cries of "You're on the wrong side of history mate!'' and "Get a job in solar!'' erupted from protesters as a group of delegates traipsed back up Moray Pl.

About 9.30am, in their second such unsuccessful attempt, police tried to forcefully remove a group of mostly female protesters from the small alcove entrance to the town hall on the corner of Harrop St and Moray Pl.

Both police and protesters lost their footing in the ensuing scrum and people cried out in fear of being crushed.

One of those protesters was Alva Feldmeier (20), of Dunedin, who was taken to hospital after ending up on the ground, and who decried the police response as heavy-handed.

"I was in the front line and the police tried to go in between two protesters to break them up.

"I was on one side and they were just so brutal ... they just kept going forward [to] get the delegates in, and then I landed underneath other people and my knee just popped.''

She was assisted to safety by a police officer and an off-duty medic and soon stretchered into a waiting ambulance. St John said her injuries were minor.

Another protester superglued her hands to the front door of the Dunedin Town Hall, remaining there for several hours before others used solvent to help free her.

Inspector Wil Black, of Dunedin, in charge of the operation, rejected claims by protesters of a heavy-handed response, saying officers were gentle with demonstrators.

"The protesters almost had a sit-in; as you'd recognise the delegates have got a right to move into that venue, it wasn't particularly helpful to have them sitting there.''

The police presence was bolstered by small teams of officers from Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington, Insp Black said.

While some protesters were critical of police, many reserved their strongest criticisms for the Red Badge security guards, who were described as being overly violent and confrontational, and in one instance were alleged to have kicked a protester.

Red Badge declined to comment and referred requests to Dunedin Venues Management Limited, which said it had no knowledge of any complaints.

Straterra chief executive Chris Baker, whose company was a joint organiser of the forum and lobbies for minerals exploration and mining, yesterday said the forum had begun late but otherwise went relatively well.

The protests were "manageable'' and delegates were "philosophical'' about yesterday's events, he said.

"I think they're entitled to the right to protest.''

He pointed out only 11% of those registered for the conference were employees of coal companies.

Protest spokeswoman Abby Spilg-Harris was happy with how the day turned out, but disappointed with police and security staff, as well as delegates, whom she said had refused to engage with protesters.

She was unsure what the scale of any protest would be today.

Ms Spilg-Harris, who is part of Extinction Rebellion, said she felt morally obliged to protest because of the devastating social and environmental effects of climate change.

• Who are the protesters?

Among the groups present were Extinction Rebellion (Christchurch and Dunedin), Environmental Justice Otepoti, Seniors Climate Action Network, Wise Response, 350 Aotearoa (Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin), Oil Free Otago, Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Organise Aotearoa and the International Socialist Organisation.