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Police are "appalled" by the behaviour this morning of protesters in Wellington that has seen three officers hospitalised after being sprayed with a "stinging substance", possibly acid. 

They have also said there are reports of sexual assault at the site and have urged anybody concerned to come to police. 

It follows an early morning police operation that saw a protester arrested for driving a car into a crowd, as police moved in on the occupation in and around Parliament, now into its third week. 

Three officers were taken to hospital for a medical assessment this morning after being sprayed with a stinging substance yet to be determined, but all are doing well, police confirm. 

"Other officers were fortunate to escape injury after a person deliberately drove the wrong way down Molesworth Street and stopped just short of colliding with them," said a police statement. 

"Two people have been arrested for obstructing police and one person has been arrested for driving in a dangerous manner." 

About 250 staff were involved in the early morning operation to further reduce the perimeter around the protest. 

"Staff secured locations at Aitken, Molesworth and Hill streets to allow forklift vehicles to move the concrete blocks." 

"The bollard line on Aitken Street and Hill Street was moved in about 50 metres, and about 100 metres on Molesworth Street." 

Sheilds were deployed this morning following protesters actions yesterday in throwing human waste at officers, and earlier today when they threw objects. 

Speaking to media on Tuesday morning, Police Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers saidit was "entirely appropriate" to for police to use shields to protect staff from faeces. 

Chambers also said there were reports of sexual assault at the site, and called for anybody concerned to come to police. 

Asked if there were any hope of negotiating given those showing aggression towards police, Chambers said they hoped other leaders in the group would have influence. Police continued to work to de-esclatate the situation. 

He said the eight concrete barriers placed yesterday had been installed to control traffic flow, to stop more people joining and allow protesters to leave. 

A number had already done so, and there was now a steady flow of people leaving. 

While yesterday there were around 900 cars, this number was decreasing. 

On how long this would last, Chambers said they were hoping on "days". 

"The sooner that is the better that is for everybody." 

It comes after a protester was arrested for driving a car into a crowd, and three police officers were injured by an "unknown substance", believed to be acid, as police moved in on the occupation early this morning. 

Defence Minister Peeni Henare said no decisions had been made, but the Defence Force and police commissioner continued to engage "at an operational level". 

"We'll continue to monitor that and I've said to the chief of Defence Force to make sure that in his discussions with the police commissioner about what their expectations [are] should we call in the Defence force." 

"But at the moment that's the police role." 

Calm has now been restored to Parliament and the surrounding streets after dramatic scenes of violence in the early hours of this morning. 

Hundreds of police officers, armed with riot shields, advanced on the protest area around 6am. 

What followed was an hour of violent confrontation as protesters faced-off against officers, trying to move concrete bollards closer to Parliament and reclaim Wellington streets. 

A white car was driven into the crowd, allegedly by a member from the protest side, and an unknown substance was thrown into officers' eyes - a substance Police believe to have been acid. 

Police retreated from the area around 7am, and things are very quiet now at the camp. There's no chanting, cheering or abuse being hurled. 

People are simply standing around and getting ready for what seems like speeches to come. 

Police are no longer receiving any kind of encouragement or appreciation when they rotate. 

Earlier, police launched an early morning operation to reclaim the streets around Parliament, as the occupation enters its third week. 

Police have been closing in on the protest perimeter on day 15 of the demonstration by moving the concrete barriers further into the occupied areas. 

"Some officers are equipped with shields, in order to protect themselves from objects thrown by protesters, such as human waste," said a statement from police. 

"A large number of protesters have attempted to obstruct police from moving the concrete barriers." 

"At least three officers require medical attention after being sprayed with an unknown substance by protesters. 

"One person has been arrested after attempting to drive a car into a group of police officers." 

It comes as police moved in on protesters this morning, forming a circle at the intersection of Molesworth, Hill and Aitken Streets. 

Protesters are now gathering at Hill Street along the police line. One is telling the others the best plan is to hold up photos of their children. 

Protesters can be heard saying "it's about the tamariki." 

Police officers armed with riot shields move in to reclaim Wellington streets early Tuesday morning. Photo / George Heard 

Police are periodically advancing the line, pushing protesters back, in preparation for the moving of the concrete blocks further up Molesworth Street. 

A member of the crowd says police alerted protesters last night to the plan to move the concrete blocks closer towards Parliament. Police have indicated they will move the concrete blocks on Molesworth Street about 100 metres closer towards Parliament. 

It appears police's intention is to free up more streets for Wellingtonians. 

A protester is explaining to the crowd that some kaumātua - presumably associated with the protest - were aware of police's plan. 

Many of the protesters however seem to be unaware of the police's plan, indicating a poor level of communication between those at the head of the protest and its members. 

Police armed with riot shields surround Wellington protest early Tuesday morning. Photo / George Heard 

A woman, who appeared to be trying to access her car past the police's barricade line, was shoved into a car by an officer with a riot shield, drawing cries of anger from protesters. 

The action comes as "Genuine protesters" are said to no longer be in control of the behaviour at Parliament after human waste was thrown at police officers. 

The incident followed police erecting checkpoints early on Monday morning to keep new vehicles from arriving at the protest. The afternoon was largely calm but stand-offs flared again on Monday evening. 

Near the Cenotaph shortly after 7pm, a scuffle broke out when police swooped on a man in the crowd. One man yelled up the Beehive steps asking for protesters to assist. 

Protesters face off with police as officers armed with riot shields surround Wellington protest early Tuesday morning. Photo / George Heard 

A man in the protest crowd set off fireworks at the intersection before other protesters grabbed the firework and handed him over to police. 

Another man with a beer bottle in his hand started posturing and yelling "warriors" but a protester berated him. 

"Are you here to mess it up for us all?" another protester yelled at him. 

Across the road, a bus to Karori waited to get through with traffic backed up behind. 

Police surround a protester's car on Bowen St during day 14 of the Covid-19 convoy protest and occupation at Parliament, Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell 

"Please clear the road, and police will have no reason to advance," a protester with a loudspeaker said. "There is no confrontation unless we make a confrontation." 

An onlooker said the man pulled from the crowd was a troublemaker. 

Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers said the most antisocial aspects of the occupation showed genuine protesters were no longer in control of the behaviour. 

"Spillage of effluent into stormwater drains, throwing of human waste at police officers, disruption and intimidation at the courts and the University are unacceptable". 

Chambers said moves to close off the area around Parliament to arriving vehicles were proving successful. 

About 5.30pm, dozens of police lined Bowen St and dozens more people watched from across the road as a dispute emerged over a white station wagon in the street. 

A man took a close interest in the car's right rear wheel and then embraced a woman who appeared to be the vehicle owner. 

Some tempers flared again on Bowen St about half an hour later. 

"You better smash that film up bro, or you're gonna get done," one protester yelled across the road at someone he thought was a journalist. 

Another protester urged him to be calm, telling him it was a peaceful protest. 

A scuflle broke out near the Cenotaph shortly before 7.30pm as police appeared to remove a man from the crowd. Photo / George Heard 

The annoyed protester swore back at him and indicated he'd been hurt in the ribs in a scuffle with police. 

A cyclist coming down Bowen St then gave the middle finger in the general direction of the protesters before 11 police officers left the scene. 

Police previously indicated more local patrols would be carried out to reassure local residents, students and businesses, and keep traffic flowing. 

And six protest groups said the vast majority of attendees were peaceful but the early morning police activity had agitated some on the convoy occupation's 14th day. 

Nearby, the Supreme Court seemed to be cleared of obstruction. 

The Chief Justice said that court, the Court of Appeal and Wellington High Court will stay closed this week — not due to the protest, but because of the pandemic's impact on staffing levels. 

Earlier, Jacinda Ardern affirmed a position to not engage with protest groups but indicated some the traffic light system could be relaxed in a few weeks. 

That would depend on the Omicron chapter of the pandemic behaving as it had done in some other countries — surging fast, infecting many, then subsiding quickly. 

The protest at Parliament has attracted a wide range of people and visitors. 

Former TV newsreader Liz Gunn, who has equated mandatory vaccinations with rape, was at the protest scene and yachtsman Sir Russell Coutts made an appearance yesterday evening. 

Coutts told Newstalk ZB the national conversation around vaccines and mandates had lacked critical debate allowing people to share perspectives. 

Ardern and Deputy PM Grant Robertson urged those who wanted to attend just out of curiosity to consider the impact the occupation had on local business and students. 

"Whilst some may simply be interested, I think they wouldn't want to send a message of support for some of the messaging you've seen down there," the PM added. 

"The police are trying and working very hard to enforce a barricade around the side. I'm sure you would not want to make their job any harder." 

Robertson, Wellington Central MP, urged people to think of workers, students, residents and others who faced obstruction. 

"If you're here because you're curious, think about the level of disruption that has been caused to all of those people and the harassment those people are currently receiving." 

The PM said she believed most New Zealanders would disagree with the protester groups' demands. 

On broader disagreements over policy, Ardern added: "I do not for a moment believe that differences of opinion mean that we are divided as a nation." 

Six protest groups released a message indicating some protesters were agitated after the early Monday morning police action. 

"As those of you who have visited the site previously will know, 95%+ of people present on site are mainstream New Zealanders demonstrating in an entirely peaceful manner. 

"The vast majority of people here are highly aggrieved that they've lost their jobs, have vaccine-injured family members, and their children are very upset about what's happening to them at school." 

The Combined Protest Groups called on the Government to take note of Australian Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce's comments about similar protests. 

"The worst thing you can do to any substantial group that is isolated is tell them they deserve to be isolated," Joyce told the Sydney Morning Herald. 

- By John Weekes and Adam Pearse, NZ Herald