The majority of charges against 15 activists, who had protested a Defence Industry Association conference held at TSB Arena on November 17, 2015, have been dropped.
The activists appeared in Wellington District Court on Monday, February 13, charged with trespass and obstruction. They pleaded not guilty.
The 2015 protests had resulted in arrests after activists had surrounded the TSB arena attempting to block entry to the venue and disrupt the conference by banging loudly on the doors and walls.
Charges were quickly dropped by Judge Ian Mill after one of the prosecution’s key witnesses, the owner of TSB Arena, admitted that the easement surrounding the building was public land.
At the time of print, charges against one of the individuals remain.
Supporters of the activists had peacefully protested the court hearing in a show of solidarity.