A cacophony of dogs barking concluded the speeches at Alexandra’s Pioneer Park on Friday as the country came to town in their thousands for Groundswell New Zealand’s Howl of a Protest. A similar number of tractors, utes, dogs, farmers, contractors, representatives of other rural service industries, and tradesmen showed up in Wanaka’s Pembroke Park.
The News attended the protests in both centres. Check out our visual coverage of this event.
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Dukes up . . . Black labrador Duke travelled from Ettirck with his humans for the event. PHOTO: SHANNON THOMSON

More than 1000 peope converged on Pioneer Park for the Groundswell NZ Howl of a Protest. PHOTO: SHANNON THOMSON

Bark up . . . Bannockburn father and daughter duo Erin Chittock with dogs Stan and Dave, and Kerry Chittock and dogs Gus and Reg during the bark up at the Groundswell Howl of a Protest in Pioneer Park in Alexandra. PHOTO: SHANNON THOMSON

Tractors go to town . . . Scenes from the Wanaka Groundswell protest by farmers and rural folk in Wanaka. PHOTO: MARJORIE COOK

Tractors of all sizes . . .Alexandra cousins (from left) Cori O'Neill (11), Poppy O'Neill (2) and Billy O'Neill (3) on their tractor at the Howl of a Protest.PHOTO: SHANNON THOMSON

Ida Valley farmer Dayna Patterson reading the Groundswell NZ statement at the Alexandra protest. PHOTO: SHANNON THOMSON

Mobile mechanic Jonny McIntosh drove his tractor from Ettrick to Alexandra for the protest. PHOTO: SHANNON THOMSON

Vantage point . . . Poolburn woman Amy Nicolson and her children Brodie (8), Emmett (6) and Alasdair (10) with Omakau brothers Jack Hore (8), Henry Hore (8, partially obscured) and Jessie Hore (5) of Becks at the Groundswell NZ Howl of a Protest at Pioneer Park in Alexandra. PHOTO: SHANNON THOMSON

Mobile mechanic Jonny McIntosh crosses the Alexandra bridge in his John Deere tractor. He drove from Ettrick to Alexandra for the protest. PHOTO: SHANNON THOMSON

Tractors go to town . . . Scenes from the Wanaka Groundswell protest by farmers and rural folk in Wanaka. PHOTO: MARJORIE COOK

Tractors go to town . . . Scenes from the Wanaka Groundswell protest by farmers and rural folk in Wanaka. PHOTO: MARJORIE COOK