The clergy members chained themselves together outside Finance Minister Nicola Willis' office in Wellington on Monday. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Members of the clergy who chained themselves together outside the finance minister's office in Wellington have ended their protest after 32 hours.
The group of six Anglican and Catholic priests chained themselves together outside Willis' office in Johnsonville yesterday, calling for sanctions on Israel.
In an update this evening, the remaining four say they were ending their 'non-violent lock-on'.
"We leave with our message ringing louder than ever: further sanctions on Israel are an urgent step New Zealand must take.
"We have seen an incredible outpouring of support for this message from people of all faiths and walks of life."
They said in the 32 hours outside Willis' office, dozens of people have died in Gaza, and they renewed their request for a meeting.
Willis said she received a large number of meeting requests and simply could not accommodate all of them.
"I will not be setting a precedent that the way to get a meeting with me is to don an adult nappy and chain yourself to a door.
"I reiterate that the result of this protest action is that Wellingtonians are currently unable to access my office for help with any local issues they may have."
Earlier today, Archdeacon Martin Robinson said ongoing deaths in Gaza overnight had strengthened the resolve of the people who remained at the site today.
"We wonder how many more children have to die before we'll show moral courage as a nation and impose these sanctions on the Israeli government."
In Auckland yesterday, five members of a group of clergy members carried out a similar protest at National MP Simeon Brown's electorate office and were served trespass notices.
The group left the building without incident, police said.
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