Overview
- Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon declared the restrictions just before midnight on Christmas Eve, covering the central, north‑west and south‑west metropolitan areas for 14 days with the option to extend to 90 days.
- During the declaration period, no applications to authorise protests will be accepted and any assembly will be deemed unauthorised under the Summary Offences Act.
- Officers can issue move‑on directions and require suspected offenders to remove face coverings for identification purposes.
- The authority derives from an omnibus anti‑terror law passed in a two‑day emergency sitting that also tightens firearm limits and creates an offence for displaying terrorist symbols.
- Premier Chris Minns said he backs the decision completely for public safety, while civil liberties and protest groups warn it endangers democratic rights and could constrain Survival Day events.