This morning truck drivers in thirteen New Zealand cities and towns staged a protest against a sudden increase in road user charges by driving a slow convoy into central business districts. This is the latest increase in the cost of transport; the cost of diesel fuel has doubled in the past year. This reporter was in Christchurch, where an estimated 500 trucks took part in the protest.

Central Christchurch looked more like a quiet afternoon than morning rush hour traffic, many people had heeded Transit New Zealand’s advice and found alternative modes of transport to work; even suited office workers could be seen parking bicycles. The other unusual site was the presence of cameras on street corners, both from established media and interested citizens. While many motorists were inconvenienced by the convoy of freight trucks many showed support to the drivers. On the side of the streets people had left their homes and workplaces to watch the protest, children at two Salisbury st preschools cheered when the truck drivers used their horns.

According to Radio New Zealand other cities have been congested yet there has only been one minor traffic accident. which occurred in central Auckland.
The protest was organised by the Road Transport Forum, an industry group led by former National government minister Tony Friedlander, because of this the protest has labeled as just an attempt to make the government look bad, however as any increased transport costs will be passed on to the consumer many New Zealander’s already dealing with an increasing cost of living will likely sympathise with the protest.