New Zealand Officials Are Blasting Music To Stop Anti-Vax Protests

And the playlist is... Interesting.

Picture this: a traffic-blocking rally rages on for over a week outside of Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand. Protesters will not budge. A 15-minute loop of this song is being played by police in the background:

Yep. NZ officials have started using tunes from a playlist of the world’s most hated songs as a strategy to disperse an anti-vax protest at the weekend – after sprinklers didn’t quite do the job.

Other features in the playlist include party favourite, “Macarena”, the recorder version of “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic, Frozen’s “Let It Go” and “Baby Shark,” to name a few.

“You’re Beautiful” singer James Blunt’s biggest hater, James Blunt himself, also offered up his own music in a tweet.

Give me a shout if this doesn’t work. @NZPolice https://t.co/AM2dZ6asMS

— James Blunt (@JamesBlunt) February 12, 2022

It all started when the NZ government’s mask and vaccine mandates came into play last week, leading to thousands of people gathering in the streets and camping outside Parliament to protest the rules. The demonstration is inspired by similar “Freedom Convoys” protests that originated in Canada.

Wellington District Police say the disruption to residents, schools and workplaces is "creating real stress and concern."

The Prime Minister and police have made several pleas and attempts to move protesters on with little success.

Billboard reports the decision to use the music was not made by law enforcement and the playlist is the brainchild of Trevor Mallard, Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives.

Mallard told Stuff NZ surrounding residents were supportive of the plan when they were consulted, while opposition lawmakers and authorities have coined the move as childish and counter-productive.

We support the right to protest & freedom of speech. We don’t support violent or offensive behaviour. That said, Trevor Mallard’s juvenile, undignified, & illegal behaviour by turning cold sprinklers on people, including children, & blasting loud music must be censored.

— Winston Peters (@winstonpeters) February 13, 2022

Despite the use of "Macarena" to deter the ralliers, it’s actually encouraged the protesters to do the dance in the rain instead. Peep the cursed video below:

Last night the lovely govt played on loop Macarena, vax messaging, & Trevor Mallard warning protesters that erecting structures on parliament lawns was unlawful. All night long. Despite this audio torture & the howling gale, the protest continues. #Parliament #convoy2022NZ pic.twitter.com/QCtK4T69N7

— @victoria_dlV (@victoria_dlV) February 13, 2022

Header Image: Abdulsatar Bochnak via Twitter, Cinemablend and @i_a_mit via Twitter.