Police are appealing to protesters encamped at Parliament to work with them to try and clear the streets of Wellington.
Despite being trespassed from the grounds some days ago, protesters remain on the lawn and show no sign of leaving.
Wellington district commander Superintendent Corrie Parnell says there were about 3000 protesters present over the weekend.
There has been a constant presence of 400 to 500 protesters in tents on the grounds and in the surrounding streets.
The police don't plan to wait the protesters out, Parnell said.
"The primary focus now is to appeal to those key organisers, leaders of the various factions there to engage with us. We are now moving to suggesting to them that we create that freedom of movement for Wellingtonians and businesses by getting you to move your vehicles to a staged area police we will facilitate for you."
It is not clear where exactly the police want protesters to move their vehicles to.
Police have tried to engage with organisers, he said.
"We've never sat on our laurels and been waiting here. You know, we've been working 24/7 around the clock in terms of looking to engage."
Covid-19 spreading through the crowd was a major concern for the police, Parnell said.
"Common logic would tell you in the presence of the audience we've got there, primarily no masks, a lot of non vaccination mandate. That that is a very real risk, not only to the occupiers but indeed to my staff."
Sanitation issues at the site were also a concern for police, Parnell said.
"Sanitisation has been in the form of portaloos down there ... some of the filming has being quite graphic, particularly around children, and on the grounds the squalor of the water, defecation and surrounding environments."
When asked if officials were too slow in responding to the convoy and allowing the protesters to erect tents at the site, Parnell said "hindsight is a wonderful thing."
"We were fully aware of a convoy. I don't think we've ever predicted the scalability and actually what's played out here."
The police were not involved in the decision to turn Parliament's sprinklers on and to use loud music to try and get rid of protesters, Parnell said.
"It's not a tactic we would encourage. It is what it is, it happened."
In a statement, Parnell said police would have a highly visible presence in and around the Parliament grounds today to provide reassurance for people going about everyday life in the city.
"We will have foot patrols in around the area of the railway station, up Molesworth Street, and streets adjoining the protest activity," he said.
He encouraged commuters to plan for continued traffic disruption; however, he said police wanted everyone coming into the city to feel safe.
