Tens of thousands of people have joined a fresh wave of protests to demand quicker action on climate change.

It comes a week after hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets around the world, with demonstrations in Australia, Britain, India and the US.



The "climate strikes" were inspired by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg who gave a passionate speech to world leaders at a United Nations summit in New York this week.

Image: Greta Thunberg praised New Zealand for 'leading the way' into Friday

On Friday, New Zealanders took part in one of the largest protests ever held in the capital Wellington, forcing organisers to change their security plans to accommodate massive crowds.

Thousands more marched in Auckland and Christchurch as well as other parts of the country.

Image: Many students took time off school to join the protests with their parents

A petition signed by 11,000 New Zealanders was handed in to parliament calling for the government to declare a climate emergency.


There are also demonstrations planned in Italian cities including Rome, Milan, Turin, Florence, Naples and Bologna.

Miss Thunberg said she planned to attend a protest in Montreal, Canada and tweeted that New Zealand was "leading the way" into Friday.

"Good luck everyone striking around the world. Change is coming!!"," she wrote.

New Zealand leading the way into Friday nr 2 in #WeekForFuture

Early reports speak of 170’000 people on #ClimateStrike in NZ. Or 3,5% of the population...

Good luck everyone striking around the world. Change is coming!!#FridaysForFuture https://t.co/u5JIWkNDen — Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) September 27, 2019

In Wellington, 18-year-old university student Katherine Rivers said it was great to see young people taking part in the march.

She said: "We need to stop pandering to some of the people who are making money off climate change. The big oil companies, the dairy industry etc. And make a change for the future of these kids that are here."

Explained: The rise of Greta Thunberg

Many students took time off school to join the New Zealand protests along with their parents.

Grandmother-of-three Violet McIntosh, 83, said politicians needed to stop talking and start taking action and praised "amazing" Miss Thunberg.

Ms McIntosh added: "She stood out there by herself to start it all. Millions of people are following her now. She should be very proud of herself."