Thousands have converged into Christchurch's Cathedral Square for a climate strike.
Included in the throng of people was the Stace family who have now attended three strikes together.
The children, Meara and Cahlen, took the day off from Beckenham School, to attend.
"The kids are very much wanting to be here. Beckenham has been really supportive which is great. For us, this is education," John, their dad, said.
"We are here because we want to look after the planet," Meara said.
More than 40 events are being held across the country, as part of an international movement sparked by Greta Thunberg.
It's the third School Strike 4 Climate, but this time organisers are calling on the wider public to join - dozens of businesses and organisations across the country have promised to shut their doors and join in.An open letter with more than 11,000 signatures will be delivered to Parliament, calling for the government to declare a climate emergency and to start building a renewable and regenerative economy.
Addressing the large crowd was Beckenham School's Lucy Gray who told protesters "we continue to act as if our house is fine".
"But our house is on fire, and the fire brigade is asleep.
"Today we join together and march together as if our futures depend on it. Because they do," she said.
Lincoln University students walked about 22.5km to join in a protest for climate change.
Lincoln University students began their march at 6am on Friday from their campus on Ellesmere Junction Rd, Lincoln to make their way to Cathedral Square for the School Strike 4 Climate event at 1pm.
While not as much of a hike, Canterbury University students are also walking to the strike from their Ilam campus — a 5km trek.
