RIVER OF FREEDOM film Japanese film poster, 2026

River of Freedom is a 2023 New Zealand feature documentary directed by Gaylene Barnes that documents the 23-day occupation of the Parliament grounds in Wellington during February and March 2022.

The film provides an inside look at the Convoy NZ protest, where thousands of citizens rallied against the government's mandatory vaccination requirements for the workforce.

The narrative covers the establishment of the "Freedom Village" on the Parliament lawn, highlighting the diverse backgrounds of the protesters and their interactions with Māori communities who welcomed them. It details the government's response, including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's directive for politicians to ignore the protesters and the subsequent police clearance operation in March 2022, which the film depicts as a brutal dawn raid.

Director: Gaylene Barnes
Writer: Gaylene Barnes
Editor: Gaylene Barnes
Producer: Gaylene Barnes
Producer: Jared Connon
Producer: Julian Arahanga
Executive Producer: Robin Monotti Graziadei
Director of Photography: Mark Lapwood
Field Director: Meagan McNamara
Composer: Russel Walder

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