Ardern had been back in the country for promotional tours of her memoir, which won $3000 in prizemoney at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards on Wednesday.
Ardern has donated the cash to literacy charity Read New Zealand Te Pou Muramura.
Dame Jacinda Ardern’s address at the 2026 Auckland Writers Festival was met with protest. Photo / Supplied
Anti-mandate, conspiracy theory and alternative media group Counterspin Media livestreamed the demonstration on Facebook, where one protester claimed to have been pushed to the ground by a festivalgoer.
A witness said the incident appeared unprovoked and followed an argument about harm caused by the Covid vaccine.
Another protester claimed a festival attendee tore a placard from their hands.
Anti-vaccine activists protesting Dame Jacinda Ardern’s appearance at the Auckland Writers Festival. Photo / Supplied
There was a small police and security presence at the event.
Foot traffic slowed after the start of the presentation and protesters packed their signs and left shortly after.
Police earlier told the Herald they were aware of the writers’ event and would monitor and “deal with any issues if they arise”.
Protesters outside Auckland’s Aotea Centre. Photo / Supplied
Counterspin Media posted to its Facebook page last week, notifying of three pop-up protests, as well as an after-party.
The post included the following wording: “5:30pm SHARP!”
“Pop-up team and volunteers assemble with banners + signs outside Aotea Centre Queen St front entrance to greet attendees queuing for the Jacinda Ardern event in the Aotea Centre’s Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre.”