New Zealand | Environmental protesters scale parliament roof

Greenpeace environmental perch themselves on a ledge above the main entrance of parliament buildings in Wellington

Four environmental protesters breached security yesterday at New Zealand’s parliamentary complex by scaling the roof and perching themselves on a ledge above the main entrance.
The Greenpeace protesters hauled up solar panels and unfurled a banner to protest what they say is the government’s lack of action in promoting renewable energy and dealing with climate change. The four secured themselves on the ledge with climbing harnesses and ropes.
The protest began at dawn and continued throughout the morning. Police issued the four with trespass notices but authorities said they planned to allow the protesters to come down on their own.
The breach will come as an embarrassment to the parliament’s security services.
David Stevenson, the general manager of Parliamentary Service, said in a statement he had ordered a full review of security procedures as a result of the breach.
“Trespassing in or on the buildings is totally inappropriate, regardless of the motivations of those involved,” he said. “We are therefore taking this incident very seriously and will be looking for any lessons we can draw from it.”
The forecourt in front of the main entrance is frequently used for sanctioned protests.
Speaking from a cellphone, protester Johno Smith told The Associated Press that the four were experienced climbers and that they planned to come down yesterday afternoon once they had got their message out and “before it gets too cold.”
He said he hoped the protest would inspire people to act.
“We need to take clean-energy action,” he said. “Our society is based around fossil fuels.”
About 77 percent of New Zealand’s electricity generation comes from renewable sources, including hydroelectric, geothermal and wind. The country’s vehicle fleet, on the other hand, primarily uses gasoline and diesel. Nick Perry, Wellington, AP