November 21, 2024

Social Media Double-Think

By NZB3

Guest Post: If a platform is truly content neutral, then we should see the individual users as 100% responsible for whatever they do on it. On the other hand, if a social network selectively chooses what is or isn’t OK, then that’s what should open the door to considering them complicit in said content. Facebook […]

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January 30, 2021

1990: The New Adventures of Black Beauty

By Anarchist History of New Zealand

The New Adventures of Black Beauty (1990) was a New Zealand children’s TV show of just one season. One of the most amazing things about the show was that it was a continuity of the British production: The Adventures of Black Beauty (1973.) It even brought back the characters and same actors for Dr Gordon […]

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January 29, 2021

1842: State vs Media

By Anarchist History of New Zealand

The State has been meddling with New Zealand media since the beginning of history. The New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Auckland’s first newspaper, was shut down on April 6th, 1842, because it offended Governor Hobson. This only happened after strong attempts to infiltrate and control what that paper had to say. “…the colonial administration…made […]

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January 28, 2021

1951: Cave In at Waiuta

By Anarchist History of New Zealand

Waiuta gold mine (est c.1905) was the West Coast’s last great gold discovery and the second most valuable mine ever. It never ran out of gold but I think it might have run out of political favour. In July 1951 a shaft collapse was never recovered from so the mine shut and Waiuta withered to […]

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January 27, 2021

1912: We Have Got The Maxim Gun

By Anarchist History of New Zealand

Victoria Square, Christchurch, has been a State preserve since about 1896. Prior to this it was known as Market Place, a commercial location for free market activity. Government literally, either deliberately or ignorantly, taxed Market Place to death¹ then claimed the site for a park for the glory of Queen and Crown. Soon, the square […]

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January 26, 2021

1910: Radium Flour

By Anarchist History of New Zealand

The 18th Nelson A&P Show of 1910 had an interesting exhibit of radium flour. This was the product of one George Trapnell of Brightwater. Why radium? Ernest Rutherford was born in Brightwater, Nelson. In the year 1904 he won the Rumford Medal… “For his researches on radio-activity, particularly for his discovery of the existence and […]

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January 25, 2021

1964: Keeping Sexual Deviants Cowed

By Anarchist History of New Zealand

Today in history, 23 January, 1964, six teenagers killed a man and left his body in Hagley Park, Christchurch. All the kids (15-17yo) were junior tradesmen: A butcher, spray painter, baker, telegrapher, builder, labourer. There was no question whether they’d beaten the man, they admitted it. All were tried together for manslaughter. All were acquitted. […]

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January 23, 2021

1955: An Increased Tourist Industry

By Anarchist History of New Zealand

Philip Holloway was born in Hokitika, son of an Anglican parson. He became a MHR and served as a Minister in Labour 2.0. Prior to that, Phil had this to say about boosting tourism in New Zealand… “I doubt if the country is ready or has the right knowledge of what an increased tourist industry […]

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January 22, 2021

1864: “White men are pitifully ignorant of the meaning of omens”

By Anarchist History of New Zealand

On 22 January, 1864, a comet had been glowing in the western sky for some days. This occurred right in the midst of the Waikato War which led to very contrasting interpretations. Young Herbert Meade (22yo) viewed the comet from his expedition to Lake Taupo. Meade, of the Royal Navy, had set out to investigate […]

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January 21, 2021

1994: PHANZA

By Anarchist History of New Zealand

PHANZA (Professional Historians’ Association of New Zealand/Aotearoa)might be fans of history but they’re not fans’a grammar… “WORKING AS A HISTORIAN” Yeesh, PHANZA. The proper grammer is not ‘a historian’ but ‘an historian’. This lapse makes this professional historians association seem like a kid who flunked out of school. Or, an American! PHANZA was established in […]

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January 20, 2021

1956: White Island Expedition

By Anarchist History of New Zealand

On 30 January, 1956, an earthquake radiated out of White Island. Caused, it’s safe to assume, by another of its many volcanic eruptions. The resulting quake was detected from the Waikato and Auckland too¹. Based on my inability to find any reporting it seems nobody was hurt and no damage worth mentioning. Except, for one […]

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January 19, 2021

1824: The Gate Incident

By Anarchist History of New Zealand

The Gate Incident occurred on January 12th, 1824, at the Paihia Mission. It was a mighty battle of wills between two wizards, one Maori and the other English. They were Tohitapu of Ngati Whatua and Henry Williams of the Church Missionary Society. “Wizard” is a perfectly proper term for for a Missionary priest and a […]

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January 18, 2021