November 21, 2024

1951: The Rise of Whina Cooper

By Anarchist History of New Zealand

Josephine ‘Whina’ Gilbert (Later Whina Cooper) had been a big shot in the Hokianga. For example, in roles unusual for a woman, she was president both of her local Federated Farmers branch and of the North Hokianga Rugby Union. The Maori journal The New World said of Whina that she had “an “afraid of no one” […]

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November 19, 2024

1902: Ashes of Accountability in Tauranga

By Anarchist History of New Zealand

Today in New Zealand history, 16 November, 1902, the Government Buildings in Tauranga burned to the ground leaving only 7 smoldering chimneys (image, left.) This first purpose-built government building in Tauranga was also the second largest timber building in the entire Colony of New Zealand when constructed in 1875. It was full of government things: […]

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November 16, 2024

1847: Howick Fencibles Land

By Anarchist History of New Zealand

On this day, 15 November, 1847, the first Fencible families from the immigrant ship Minerva disembarked from the Government brig Victoria at Howick Beach. This being a government project, things did not proceed in an orderly fashion. Howick was the largest of the Fencible settlements, all made up of ex-soldiers still on call should trouble […]

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November 15, 2024

1941: Blackout

By Anarchist History of New Zealand

Until 1941 the first year or so of WW2 didn’t need to be a problem for a New Zealander. Up until mid-1940 there had even been a huge Centennial Exhibition to attend in Wellington for 6 months during which 2.6 million visitors ate fancy food and played games. Before that the German Ambassador himself was […]

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November 8, 2024

1863: The Waka Buster

By Anarchist History of New Zealand

Today in New Zealand history, 1 November, 1863 the Government’s streamer Lady Barkly set out from Onehunga on a capture/destroy mission on Manukau Harbour. The target was any and all uncontrolled transport craft, particularly Maori canoes: “Waka.” The crew returned on 6 November with 11 canoes in tow as well as a big stern post […]

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November 1, 2024