River of Freedom

Two years into the Covid-19 pandemic, in a bid to control the outbreak, the government mandated vaccination for all health, disability and education workers, and for close contact venue staff. Some Kiwi citizens took issue with the policy, and in early 2022 thousands of protestors travelled to Wellington in a convoy and occupied parliament grounds to voice their opposition to the vaccine mandates. This documentary looks at the 23-day standoff from an inside perspective, capturing who the protestors were, what they were fighting for, and the subsequent government and police response.

We'd already been bullied out of everything else. I didn't have anything else to lose.

– Health worker and protester Tarryn Reid

Key Cast & Crew

Russel Walder

Composer

Robin Monotti Graziadei

Executive Producer

Mark Lapwood

Producer, Cinematographer

Julian Arahanga

Producer

Jared Connon

Producer

Gaylene Barnes

Director, Writer, Producer, Editor, Camera Operator