1865: Fitz Dreams of Peace
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
On 8 April, 1865, Punch in Canterbury was first published. Like the Punch of England¹, this was a weekly political satire but set, of course, in Canterbury Province. Unlike the parent publication (lasted 150ys) the local version only made it to August of the same year. In that time plenty of good cartoons were […]
Read more..May 26, 2020
I’m poor but I’m kind
By NZB3
“I’m broke but I’m happy, I’m poor but I’m kind” Alanis Morissette: Great lyrics! I’ll make that into a song. Think I’ll call it ‘One hand in mypocket” Jacinda Ardern: Great lyrics? I’m going to make that into political policy. Think I’ll call it ‘Two hands in the taxpayer’s pocket’ — The subtext […]
Read more..May 25, 2020
1989: The Palmer Interlude
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Geoffrey Palmer was the second of the three Labour 4.0 Prime Ministers, taking over after David Lange quit until Mike Moore was deployed to fight the 1990 General Election. Palmer’s Ministry lasted just 11 months (August 1989-September 1990) during which a great deal occurred that might have helped him, and his Government, win re-election. Labour decided […]
Read more..May 21, 2020
1992: Schlaepfer Farm Murders
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Today in New Zealand history, 20 May, 1992, the Schlaepfer Farm Murders occurred. The place was Paerata, just north of north of Pukekohe, but I prefer to refer to the place by its fading historical name: Helvetia Helvetia, est 1884, took the ancient name of Switzerland, equivalent of our ‘Britainia’ or ‘Zealandia’. 4000 acres “of virgin land” […]
Read more..May 19, 2020
1815: Waterloo
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Today in New Zealand’s historical back-story, 18 May, war was both declared and won against Napoleon Bonaparte’s French Empire. Declared in 1803, and all wrapped up at the Battle of Waterloo on the same day in 1815 which was 205 years ago today. The Napoleonic Wars set the scene for colonising New Zealand but they […]
Read more..May 18, 2020
Lockdown Clown Diary
By NZB3
Covid-19 Diary: May 11th Seem to be living on another planet. Have to keep reminding myself that the strange and paranoid behavior of the people living around me is based on the idea they believe- really believe- thousands of lives depend on obeying Big Brother. While Labour 6.0 re-negotiates their New Deal with businessmen we […]
Read more..May 11, 2020
1856: The Local Posts Act
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
The State has a long standing interest in controlling our postal system throughout history. Apart from the revenue gained by capturing this means of taxing communications, The State was also seizing a presence in the social life of people. The Local Posts Act of 1856 allowed Provincial Governments to set up Post Offices, mail services […]
Read more..May 11, 2020
1769: “Sacred taonga that left the shores”
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
When Cook’s Endeavour re-discovered New Zealand a number of artefacts were traded by the explorers and treasured back in England. By now, 250 years down the track, they’re not, of course, all kept in the same collection. So, it’s wonderful that Tairawhiti Museum have gathered some of these objects back together again in New Zealand. […]
Read more..May 6, 2020
COVID Masks are Gang Patches
By NZB3
One of the visible features of the COVID-19 crisis has been the waring of surgical masks. These, like much of this political crisis, are not there for health reasons alone. It’s also about theatre and superstition. They signal to others that the waringer is serious about the political fantasy and that’s quite separate from any […]
Read more..May 6, 2020
1838: Fanatical Flogger Founding Father Falls
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Today in New Zealand history, 12 May, 1838, the death of Samuel Marsden (72yo.) Marsden had been a major player in the New South Wales sphere of influence (which included New Zealand) since arriving in our part of the world around 1800. Like men before him and after, Marsden tried to be the Big Boss of […]
Read more..May 5, 2020
Mixing Art and History
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Last year, 2019, Porirua Museum put together an exhibition about exploration to New Zealand. According to the director, Reuben Friend, ” it was the first time the Museum had used an art exhibition to tell a historic narrative.” However it seems to me a dangerous slippery slope to blur the boundaries between art and history. […]
Read more..May 3, 2020
Money for Nothin’
By NZB3
As Anarchists feared, the post-COVID “help” from The State is going to be worse than the alleged ailment it sets out to cure. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand have added a bunch of zeros to their special spreadsheet and nobody stopped them.. “Twenty years ago this would have been called unconventional monetary policy. Now, […]
Read more..May 1, 2020
