People noisily protesting possible cuts to a new Dunedin hospital turned up at every known stop on Mr Luxon’s brief visit to the city, which was officially to spend time with the people involved in the response to the recent weather event.
Plans to visit weather-affected parts of the city did not appear to pan out, and at a press conference at the Dunedin City Council’s Emergency Operations Centre, known as the bunker, his staff were overheard telling non-journalists being asked to leave that there was "a security risk to deal with".
About 30 vocal protesters crowded the stairwell access to and from the bunker.
Mr Luxon’s office later declined to confirm a security risk or reports the prime minister left the bunker separately in an unmarked police vehicle.
"We do not comment on security matters regarding the prime minister", a spokesman said.
