Pushing matches erupted outside the Auckland's SkyCity Convention Centre around lunchtime as protesters tried to get inside, ahead of New Zealand Prime Minister John Key's post-budget speech to business leaders.
Auckland Action Against Poverty organised the protest on Friday to voice their opposition to the budget, which it says doesn't go far enough to help the poor.
Police say protesters assaulted officers, security staff and a member of the public while aggressively trying to enter the building through various entrances.
Broadcaster Paul Henry was blocked from entering the building and heckled.
Police officers suffered minor injuries, including scratches to the face and arms.
One person was arrested and police are reviewing video footage.
"This was a very challenging event to police and I am disappointed with the behaviour of these protesters," Inspector Peter Gibson said.
The crowd behaviour went "well beyond what is acceptable", he said.
"We work hard to ensure the lawful right of protest is upheld, however, what we faced today was an aggressive crowd which had little regard for lawful behaviour."
Videos showing police forcefully pushing protesters have been shared on social media, but don't give the full story, he said.
"Video which shows the full context of what police were facing paints a somewhat different picture from the selective extracts which some are choosing to show," Insp Gibson said.
Mr Key says the protest was a "bit disappointing" because the government is tackling child poverty.
"Sometimes they can protest and you might be able to see some rationality behind it, but if they're protesting about child poverty and we're the first government to raise benefits for 43 years, you just sort of start saying they're protesting for the sake of it."
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