From screen to page! Following the success of the documentary River of Freedom, a powerful new book — Heart of the Protest — takes readers behind the scenes of one of New Zealand’s most significant uprisings. Co-authored by filmmaker Gaylene Barnes, director and editor of River of Freedom, and writer Siân Clement, Heart of the Protest features personal accounts and researched details around the events and motivations that shaped the 2022 Parliament Protest.
“Too often historical events are only covered by one side. It felt important to provide a balance to this a pivotal chapter in New Zealand’s social history,” says Gaylene. “These weren’t just your usual protestors. They were nurses; teachers; builders; plumbers; farmers; mothers; fathers and grandparents —all just wanting to be heard.”
Adds Siân: “Writing this book was about honouring the courage of everyday people who stood up and said, ‘enough’. It’s not just a retelling of what happened; it’s a reflection on who we are, what we stand for, and what kind of future we want.”
Heart of the Protest also reveals the story of the filmmakers themselves — how a small team came together on Parliament’s lawn to document events. With no major distributor and near-total media silence, their crowdfunded River of Freedom became a grassroots phenomenon and, on 21 September 2023, was the most-watched film in New Zealand.
Heart of the Protest captures not only what happened, but why it continues to matter.
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BACK BLURB: Heart of the Protest is the story of the nationwide Convoy 2022 NZ and the resulting protest and occupation of Parliament grounds in February and March that year. When the Government enforced mandatory COVID vaccinations on almost the entire workforce, New Zealanders rose up. Kiwis from all walks of life—teachers, students, medical professionals, tradespeople, musicians, pilots, farmers, ex-police, business owners and employees—arrived at Parliament expecting to be heard. Instead, they were ridiculed by media and collectively ignored by all 120 members of the House. This book expands on the stories of the people represented in the film River of Freedom (2023) who share memories of harm and division, and reflect on the failure of democracy and constitutional sovereignty in their country. Scores of voices from interviews during and following the protest have been woven together with politician and media comments from the time, to provide a comprehensive account that will elucidate the motives behind the thousands of Kiwis who streamed into Parliament grounds on 8 February 2022. Already ostracised from society–they had nothing to lose in their quest for restoration of their rights and freedoms. Heart of the Protest also hears from the filmmakers—how they came together on Parliament lawn to ensure a visual cinematic record was produced and distributed. Relying on crowdfunding and emerging media platforms, they released River of Freedom independently into cinemas across the country in September 2023. By the third week the film was #1 at the New Zealand box office.
ISBN: 9780473750633
Publisher: BRAIDED FILMS
Published: 1 MARCH 2026
Paperback: 240mm x 170mm, 424pp
79 full-colour photos
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To purchase for your SCHOOL or LIBRARY: Wheelers