Watch: Protesters disrupt David Seymour announcement in Toyworld store

Author: Adam Pearse,
Publish Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2026, 1:51pm

Police had to be called when a Government announcement on changing toy standards was disrupted by protesters who entered Wellington’s Toyworld store and yelled at Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour and Minister Cameron Brewer.

Seymour and Brewer had walked to the store near Parliament to make the announcement. It’s likely protesters saw them and followed.

As a media stand-up was about to begin, a couple of protesters entered the store and yelled at the pair over the Government’s actions related to the conflict in Gaza and Palestine.

Staff then removed them from the store. The protesters, who grew in number to more than a dozen, congregated outside the store and chanted throughout the stand-up.

Several customers had to be let into the store by staff, who were guarding the entrance to ensure protesters didn’t re-enter.

Two police officers were on hand as Seymour and Brewer left the store after Seymour’s staff had reported the incident to security. One protester briefly followed Seymour as he walked back to Parliament but no incident occurred.

Asked if the protest action was a sign of what’s to come in the election campaign, Seymour said it was a “real shame”.

“Unfortunately, a small number of people are able to stop a whole lot of other good people trying to come in and buy toys for their children.

“I don’t think they do their cause any good, I suspect more and more New Zealanders are frankly sick of it.”

Despite the interruption, Seymour and Brewer pressed on with the announcement, which was the Government recognising United States and European Union toy standards to allow more toys to be compliant in New Zealand.

Seymour, the Regulation Minister, said it could relieve costs for toy importers between $3500 and $5000, which are paid currently if toys aren’t compliant with New Zealand standards.

Seymour said it was estimated to save $6.8 million over 10 years. He was unable to say to what extent prices would reduce as a result, but was confident prices would decrease due to increased competition.

Brewer, the Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister, was assured it wouldn’t put children at more risk.

“This doesn’t lessen safety at all, this gives us best practice.

“There’s no concern that there’s no concern whatsoever that safety is being compromised.”

Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.