1888: Reefton’s Electric Christmas
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
The year 1870 marked a new phase in New Zealand gold mining with the discovery of deposits in the Inangahua Valley; Reefton. If not for the new stimulus of Reefton quartz and Kumara alluvial the West Coast’s Golden days would have been done. Many who had come to the Coast for gold had already moved […]
Read more..December 31, 2024
1996: Fly Buys
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Fly Buys, est. 1996, was once huge but ended at the stroke of midnight on 1 January, 2025. “The Flybuys catalogue became legendary, filled with an endless array of items that could be “purchased” with points. At its peak, Flybuys had over 20 contributing partners, close to 3 million members, and featured in 80% of […]
Read more..December 30, 2024
1902: Waimarino County
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Waimarino County came into existence by its own Act of Parliament on 2 October, 1902. The Waimarino block, located at the foot of Mount Ruapehu, had enough settlers to have transitioned from Settler frontier, to Road Board, to County. By 1918 they had their own County Offices at the County Seat of Raetihi but it was destroyed […]
Read more..December 24, 2024
Rakaia Ripoff
By NZB3
How about half million dollars for a government mini-golf course in Rakaia? Ashburton District Council are making a ridiculous demand on their tax livestock. If there was a market for such a thing why not suppose free people could come up with such a business? Do holes in the ground and some astroturf from the […]
Read more..December 20, 2024
1642: New Zealand’s First Christmas
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
On the night before Christmas, 1642, the danger of losing it troubled more than a few. The Twelve Days of Christmas were due to begin, but in Protestant nations the future looked thin. Now Scotland, now England, now German and Swiss! The Christmas tradition faced the abyss! The Wokesters of their day, the Puritans, the […]
Read more..December 20, 2024
1993: Wellington’s City to Sea Bridge
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Wellington’s City to Sea Bridge (est.1993) was a creation of Paratene Matchitt from Napier (why can’t locals produce their own culture?) It cost $2,300,000 at the time. Matchitt indifferent to what the customer would think of it. Rather than relating to New Zealand, the expensive decorations look more like some heathen Aztec totem pole keeled […]
Read more..December 19, 2024
1893: Greymouth-Hokitika Line
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Today in history, 18 December, 1893, the Greymouth-Hokitika line was finally opened. Started in the late 1870s much of it had been completed so long ago it was rusting and buckling and the hope of ever seeing a train was a joke. Technically the line had been opened by Premier Seddon in June but governments […]
Read more..December 18, 2024
1947: Kaitaia Airport
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Kaitaia Airport opened on 21 January, 1947.¹ Prior to this it had been Awanui Aerodrome which was created to support the Pacific War efforts by New Zealand and US Forces. The land was purchased from a portion of a Dalmatian farmer’s land for the war effort. Millions were invested to make it a Pacific air […]
Read more..December 17, 2024
1954: BNZ Drive-In Bank
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Today in New Zealand history, 16 December, 1954, our first drive-in bank: BNZ on the corner of Vivian and Taranaki Streets, Wellington CBD. “New Zealand’s first Motor Bank.” Trust something like this to come from the Everest Dignity Culture era of our history. It was a High time, a “First Turning,” the “Summer Afternoon” of […]
Read more..December 16, 2024
1962: Memorial Park Fountain
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Today in New Zealand history, December 15, 1962, Memorial Park Fountain in Tauranga was unveiled. “12 jet formations and 8 different light changes,” and “volunteers gave up 5000 hours of their time over 27 weekends to build it.” – Tauranga Historical Society That’s proper New Zealand High Kiwis doing things for themselves rather than letting […]
Read more..December 15, 2024
1902: Taipo Explosives Ltd.
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
A new article in the Otago Daily Times reveals a bit of Dunedin history by John Lewis. Mostly the information is directly cribbed from from this Gumtree listing (aka “Australian online antique auction site” but really just Aussie Trade Me.) It concerns a fairly common old drinking flask but with engravings relevant to our history. […]
Read more..December 14, 2024
Hyperscale Data Centre
By NZB3
This just in about the new Hyperscale Data Centre coming to Westgate, West Auckland. Apparently the woman pulling the strings (or public-facing) is Vanessa Sorenson. Was only half-listening to her “interview” (really PR for ZB and probably comes with a recepit….) and forgot why I hit play. It was because I’m interested in West Auckland […]
Read more..December 13, 2024
