Vaccinators in Northland are keeping calm and carrying on despite being abused by anti-vaxxers.
Iwi collective Te Ranga Tupua rapid response vaccination co-lead Elijah Pue told Newshub a small group of anti-vaxxers egged one of his vaccination clinics in the Whanganui region.
"Our mobile unit, they were egged. Quite simply a couple of people from the anti-vax community threw eggs at our vaccination staff and unit."
Pue told Newshub that was just some of what they experience daily.
"It's the tip of the iceberg of a whole barrage of anti-vax sentiment that we've been experiencing across our rohe."
Pue said there are two types of anti-vax sentiment they are dealing with, one being genuine hesitancy from parents who want answers from experts and the other who he says are pro-choice and anti-vax.
"Who are there to just disrupt these parents ability to get their own answers,"
"People want us to leave and never come back, that is never going to be the case this isn't scaring us or incriminating us in any way shape or form," Pue added.
Though these attacks have just recently started, Pue made it clear that professional security would not be hired.
"People might be coming for a vaccination or a korero and a cup of tea they don't want to be greeted by a security guard."
The co-lead said instead Maori wardens may be an option but his team are working to establish how they can best support frontline staff facing these attacks.
Pue told Newshub anti-vaxxers will not stop them from vaccinating Kiwis.
"We will continue to vaccinate and we will continue to provide our people with what they need regardless of the attacks that we are getting at the moment, this doesn't stop us."
Pue had a strong message for those behind the attacks.
"Don't sit behind a keyboard and don't egg us and don't attack us just come and have a korero."
These attacks come after police were called to a school in North Canterbury on Thursday morning as students and parents were greeted by anti-vax protestors on their way into school.
"Police were notified of the protest's and were present to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Protesters remained outside the school premises and did not need to be removed," a police spokesperson said.
Police say they will follow up on any reports of intimidation or disorder and encourage anyone who is the victim of a crime or is in a situation where they feel unsafe, to get in touch with the Police.
"If it is happening now, call 111. If it has already happened, call 105."
Freedom for Rights Coalition group plan to hold a "nationwide" march across Aotearoa called "now they're coming for our babies, leave our kids alone".
In a Facebook post, the group claim "most parents know that this government is messing with our kid's freedoms under the cover of Covid".
The group plans to hold events in the likes of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on Saturday, February 4.
