Auckland Roads Reopen After Police Block Destiny Church-Linked Bridge Protest

By Lions Roar Aotearoa Local Government Desk

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND (Saturday, January 31, 2026) — Traffic has returned to normal in central Auckland after a major police operation successfully prevented a large group of protesters from marching onto the Auckland Harbour Bridge earlier this afternoon.

The protest, led by Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki and a group calling themselves the “True Patriots of New Zealand,” caused significant disruption to city-bound traffic before being contained by a strategic police cordon at the Fanshawe Street onramp.

🚧 The Standoff at Fanshawe St

Following a rally at Victoria Park where Brian Tamaki addressed the crowd, approximately 1,000 supporters began a march toward the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

The Goal: Protesters intended to walk across the bridge to highlight their opposition to what they termed “mass immigration.”
The Slogans: Many in the crowd wore “Kiwis First” and “Keep NZ NZ” shirts, carrying banners that echoed these nationalist sentiments.
The Cordon: A heavy police presence, including a solid line of officers in tactical gear, blocked the Fanshawe St entrance. This resulted in a brief but tense standoff between marchers and authorities.

👮 Police Response & Dispersal

Police commanders at the scene remained firm, refusing to let the group access the motorway due to safety risks and the potential for a total shutdown of the city’s main arterial route.

De-escalation: After nearly 45 minutes of chanting and speeches at the cordon, the group began to disperse peacefully. No major arrests were reported during the immediate standoff.
Road Closures: While the Fanshawe St onramp was blocked for over an hour, Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has since confirmed that all central Auckland ramps are now open and flowing.

🗣️ Protester Motivations: “True Patriots of NZ”

The group, which has increasingly aligned with Brian Tamaki’s public demonstrations, stated that their primary grievance is the current government’s immigration policy. They claim that the volume of new arrivals is impacting the national identity and infrastructure of New Zealand.

“We are here to stand for the people who were born and raised in this land,” one protester told reporters. “We want New Zealand to stay for New Zealanders.”

📊 Incident at a Glance

Feature	Details
Location	Victoria Park to Fanshawe St Onramp, Auckland
Leader	Brian Tamaki (Destiny Church)
Crowd Size	Approximately 1,000
Primary Issue	Anti-Mass Immigration
Outcome	Blocked by Police; No bridge access; Roads reopened