1989: Brian’s Revolution
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Ask a New Zealander who their greatest revolutionary reformer is and they will not say it is Brian Elwood or even know the name. If he knows his history the 1890s Liberals such as Ballance or Seddon will be suggested, or the 1930s First Labour Government, but he would be wrong. Nor is it Labour […]
Read more..August 27, 2022
1864: Charlie’s First Day at Boarding School
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
“Listen, if you break one of the rules or regulations of this school I’ll thrash you.” said the schoolmaster. The cane used for said thrashing was tucked under his arm ready for use on any children who should dare to ‘talk back’. “Go to your seat.” These were the first words said to the schools […]
Read more..August 15, 2022
1973: The Importance of Being Ernest Adams
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
The once iconic Ernest Adams brand was part of the spirit of New Zealand and even a microcosm of the national history itself. We must ensure our country does not end in the same way. The 1930s company transitioned from an ambition to a spirit to what was, by 2000, a ghost. The ghost was […]
Read more..August 12, 2022
National’s New Wood
By NZB3
Peter Goodfellow, of a very old New Zealand politically involved family¹, has been succeeded by Sylvia Wood as new National Party President. The big change has coincided with the reversal of one of Goodfellow’s last big decisions: The election of Sam Uffindell. Sam Uffindell was a sure-thing as a MHR, easily winning the safe seat […]
Read more..August 10, 2022
“Countries need slaves to prop them up”
By NZB3
The recent AHNZ post about the Moerewa Riot of 1979 rightly traced modern gangs to their origins in government programs. These worker migrant programs and government urban projects (eg The Otara Project) fed the New Zealand economy like cheap carbohydrates fuel your body. It allowed for quick energy and rapid growth in the post-war boom […]
Read more..August 7, 2022
1892: The Doctor of No Town
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Today in history, Friday 5 August, 1892, Dr John Henry Grattan died in a converted chicken coup aged 48 in accordance with his wishes. He had been an essential public figure and the doctor of No Town and the surrounding area. This Grey Valley town thrived for a generation or so while the gold lasted […]
Read more..August 5, 2022
2008: The New Zealand Pacific Party
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Today in history, 4 August, 2009, Philip Field was found guilty of corruption and bribery for which he ended up in prison. Field was New Zealand’s first Pacific Islander to be elected to Parliament. The Samoan had risen to become a MHR in the seat of Otara, the government-made immigrant slumlands, then moved down the […]
Read more..August 4, 2022
1962: The Treaty of Friendship
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Samoans were having their own bloody equivalent of the Maori Musket Wars. And, in the same time period. Fierce tribe-on-tribe violence was curbed here, as in NZ, by independent Whalers and Missionaries after the 1830s. When it was safe, in came the politicians. The Great Powers of Germany, USA, and Britain divided up the islands […]
Read more..August 3, 2022
1943: Liberator Crash at Whenuapai
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Tonight in history, 2 August, 1943, a United Airlines B-24 Liberator was destroyed. At least 3 crew and 13 civilian Prisoners of War (Japanese & Taiwanese women and children) were killed in a failed take-off from Whenuapai air base. This isn’t even the only Liberator to crash in 1943, and mishaps of this sort were […]
Read more..August 2, 2022
