Crunching the numbers behind the national climate change strike turnout
The third national climate change strike might go down in history, if attendance numbers are correct. Friday's strike action in the name of climate change was believed to have attracted 170,000 people nationwide, according to strike organisers. If accurate, it takes the lead as one of New Zealand's biggest strikes (in terms of attendees) - beating out the 1951 industrial confrontation that saw 22,000 wharfies join the picket line for 151 days from February to July, as well as this year's mega teachers' strike , but not quite the 1979 general strike which saw almost 300,000 workers nationwide join the picket line for one day. Images of placard-wielding hordes filled social media throughout the day, as children and adults alike gathered to demand change and action to mitigate the effects of climate change. READ MORE: * School climate strike: Adults join with kids in huge day of national protest * Students prepare for climate strike: 'When we look back, we'll be on the right side of history' * Friday's climate strike will be the biggest yet, organisers say Organisers reported 40,000 protesters moving from Wellington's Civic Square to the steps of Parliament, an estimated 80,000 in Auckland's Aotea Square, 9000 in Christchurch, 9000 in Dunedin, and 2000 in Palmerston North and Tauranga. This wasn't including attendance numbers from the remaining strikes around the country - there were believed to be around 45 events in total. School Strike 4 Climate New Zealand spokesperson Sophie Handford said the figures were gathered by people on the ground, from advice from councils, police, and drones. "We also had some drone footage [taken] at various events which helped us to calculate the turnout." Handford confirmed the third strike in New Zealand crippled the previous records for New Zealand's climate strikes, inspired by 16-year-old activist Greta Thunberg - both were reported to have attracted around 20,000 each. Handford said the turnout was so large because people are starting to wake up to the urgency of the situation. "More and more people are realising that our elected leaders aren't going to take action on the climate crisis without people using their power to show how important this is. "There is so much at stake - our futures, our collective home and we need to see meaningful, urgent action if we want to safeguard these things." The increased attention and attendance was also due to the open invitation issued by organisers. Before the first chant was bellowed on Friday, School Strike 4 Climate New Zealand national coordinator Raven Maeder said everyone was encouraged to march . "We want people from all walks of life to join us, I can't imagine a future where people are shamed for joining us. They will be celebrated." From the ground in Wellington, Handford estimated an even split between youth and adults. In the last 12 months alone, New Zealand experienced various strikes - primary school teachers , secondary school teachers , and bus drivers - as well as threats from other professions, including nursing . But the turn out for these strikes, didn't even come close to that of the climate strike. The teachers' mega strike in May was said to have drawn a crowd of 50,000 primary, secondary, and area school teachers, as well as primarpy principals . Though it was smaller than the climate strike, it had far-reaching effects, with up to 700,000 students affected by the action . In October, an estimated 100 bus drivers in Auckland and 100 in Waikato went on strike for 24 hours. Even The Great Strike of 1913 didn't amount to the same interest as Friday's climate strike, but it did last longer. 16,000 Wellington waterside workers stopped work from October until December in the 20th Century. Handford said Friday's strike wouldn't be the last as climate activists in New Zealand and around the world were committed to the cause. "We are committed to this fight for the climate justice until our demands are met and we think the numbers definitely have the potential to grow, when we saw yesterday how many people are also demanding action."