At least 1000 students have skipped school in the capital today to help kick off a series of strikes across the country calling for action against climate change.
The students, chanting "Who's future? Our future!", could be seen marching through the Wellington CBD as they headed towards Parliament, joining over 90 different countries in calling out government inaction over the impact of climate change on future generations.
"We're not on a course where we're going to meet the Paris Climate Agreement, so we need to take action now and that's why we're out here today," Rebecca, a university student, told 1 NEWS.
She said the reaction from parents have been "pretty positive overall", adding that they "understood the urgency of what we're trying to promote".
"So obviously, overall, there has been some resistance, but I think the people who really understand the urgency of the issue is behind us today."
Green Party leader and Climate Minister James Shaw later spoke to the students outside Parliament over the Government's role in combating climate change.
Meanwhile, around 500 students could be seen turning out to Auckland's Aotea Square, with organisers anticipating the number to double once the protest kicked off at 12.30pm.
Around 500 people had trickled in to Aotea Square ahead of the march this afternoon.
A number of parents who turned up with their children told 1 NEWS they were disappointed that their children were enrolled in schools promoting leadership and standing up for their beliefs which then threatened to punish them for skipping school to attend the event.
A performance will be held at the square, followed by talks with a number of key speakers and climate activists.
The Auckland strike is expected to wrap up just before 3pm.
Protests in Christchurch began at 1pm.
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